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FL0RIGRAPH1A BRITAN NIC A ;

OR,

ENGRAVINGS AND DESCRIPTIONS

OF THE

FLOWERING PLANTS & FERNS

OF BRITAIN.

BY RICHARD DEAKIN, M.D.

VOL. IV.— Class XXIV.

LONDON :

HAMILTON, ADAMS, AND Co.; R. GROOMB RIDGE AND SONS;

RIDGE AND JACKSON, KING-STREET, SHEFFIELD.

MDCCCXLVIII.

PREFACE.

After an interval of ten years of successive issues of
monthly parts, the Florigraphia Britannica is at length
auspiciously brought to a close by the publication of a
complete series of Engravings and Descriptions of the
Flowering Plants and Ferns of Britain. Stimulated at
the outset, mainly by a love of the subject for its own
sake, and a concurrent desire to place in the hands of
the Botanical student, and the intelligent general admirer
of our native Flora, a work which should he at once
cheap, full, accurate, and respectable, neither the author
nor the publisher exactly calculated how tardy and pre¬
carious would be their remuneration, clearly as they fore¬
saw the amount of persevering labour and unremitted
application on the one part, and the long continued
expense on the other part, which, such an undertaking
necessarily involved. It is at the same time, due to those
parties who have been subscribers to the work to say, that
the testimonies of their approbation which have from time
to time been received through the long period above-
mentioned, have not only been gratifying in themselves,
but they have given to the transmission and reception
of the different fasciculi of the book as consecutively
published, somewhat less of a mere business transaction,
and somewhat more of the character of friendly inter¬
course, than is common between booksellers and book-
buyers. As the author happens to be abroad at the
moment when his work is issued in its complete form to

PREFACE.

the public, the Publisher may be permitted to remark
that, whatever inconvenience Dr. Deakin may occasionally
have experienced in having had to devote his pen and
his pencil to these botanical pursuits so dear to his taste,
amid the interruption of repeated and prolonged visits
to the continent, the result, to the reader, is mainly the
interest and advantage of a number of allusions to the
foreign Flora. As to the place which teachers and stu¬
dents of the delightful branch of Natural History, which
these pages elucidate, may assign to the Florigraphia
Britannica, nothing can be said here, beyond the assurance
that every effort has been made to deserve the approbation
of enlightened and candid judges. On one point, it ap¬
pears proper to say a word or two in conclusion, because
it relates to a claim for originality — a merit which, in
this case, will be duly appreciated by persons who are
aware how often figures of plants, even in expensive
works, have been reproduced at second-hand, or still
more injuriously disguised by colour or distortion to
produce effect : we refer to the fact the entire series
of Illustrations, mostly Six on a Page, are accurate fac-
similies engraved from original drawings, made by the
Author from the Plants themselves, and carefully coloured
after nature. The figure of each species is accompanied
with representations of the characteristic parts of fructifi¬
cation delineated from actual dissections of the various
organs as they appear under the microscope, or to the
naked eye of the practical botanist.

Sheffield, June 30, 1848.

THE

FERNS OF BRITAIN,

AND THEIR ALLIES;

COMPRISING

equisetacea, eilioacea,

L Y COPODI ACE A , & MARSILEACEA,

FORMING THE FOURTH VOLUME OF

FLORIGRAPHIA BRITANNICA.

BY RICHARD DEAKIN, M.D.

LONDON :

HAMILTON, ADAMS, & CO.; R. GROOMBRIDGE & SONS;
RIDGE & JACKSON, KING-STREET, SHEFFIELD.

MDCCCXLVIII.

SYNOPSIS OF THE GENERA

Class 24. Cryptogamta (part of).
(Stamens and Pistils not visible.)

Order I. Equisetace m.— Horse-tails.

Fructification a terminal spike composed of whorls and
of scales. Scales peltate, angular on footstalks, on the under
side of which are from four to seven involucres, which open
longitudinally and contain numerous globose bodies, enfolded
by four filaments, club-shaped at their extremity and highly
hygrometrical. [Semi-aquatic plants, with jointed subterranean
rhizoma and erect, fistulous, striated, leafless stems, in the
cuticle of which silex is secreted ; jointed, easily separated
at each joint, and surround' d by a membraneous toothed
sheath. Stem simple or with whorls of branches from the
base of the articulations, composed chiefly of cellular substance,
perforated with longitudinal cavities, and surrounded externally
with hard woody tubes, which also radiate towards the centre.
Stomatee arranged longitudinally in the cuticle.J

GENERA.

1. Equisetum, [page 13.] The only one of the order.

Order II. Filices _ Ferns.

Fructification only of one kind upon the same species.
Capsules (thecae) semi-transparent cases, arising from the veins
on the under side of the leaf or from the margins ; in clusters
b

SYNOPSIS OF THE GENERA.

of various shape, called son', rarely spiked or recurved, naked
or covered with an indusium or involucre, formed by a portiou
of the cuticle being forced up like a membranous covering.
The thecce are either pedicellated, with the pedicel passing
round them in the form of an elastic ring, or sessile, and without
a ring. Seeds or sporules very numerous, minute, mostly
triangular or ovate, and occupying, without order, the thecae.
[Perennial plants producing a rhizoma in the place of a stem,
which creeps below the surface of the ground, or in some exotic
species rises above and forms a trunk-like stem. Leaves or
fronds coiled up (circinate) in vernation, and are entire or
much divided.]

GENERA.

Ftlices ex annul at ^e. Thecce two-valved, without an elastic
ring.

Family 1. Ophioglossace,e. Vernation straight and the
stem hollow.

1. Ophioglossum, [page 33.J Thecce oblong, two-valved,

arranged in a straight club-shaped spike, attached to
an undivided frond.

2. Botryciiium, [page 34.] Thecce globose, two-valved, ar¬

ranged in clusters on the margin of a compressed
branched spike.

Family 2. Osmundace^. Vernation circinate, and the
stem solid, as in the Filices anunlatae.

3. Osmunda, [page 36.] Thecce terminating the frond in

branched spike-like clusters.

Filices annulata. Thecce furnished with an elastic ring,
and by the contraction of which the thin membranous
sides are torn and the contained sporules scattered.

Section 1. Thecce attached in clusters ( sori ) to the back
oj the frond.

Family 3. Polypodiaceje. Thecce in circular clusters
(sori) without indusium.

4. Polypodium, [page 37.] Sori circular clusters. Indu¬

sium wanting. Fronds flat, the lateral veins not anas-
tomozing.

SYNOPSIS OF THE GENERA.

5. Woodsia, [page 45.] Sori circular, loose clusters, scat¬

tered. Tndusium cut into numerous mostly capillary
segments. Fronds flat, the lateral veins not anasto-
mozing.

6. Allo’sorus, [page 47.] Sori circular clusters, becoming

confluent and concealed by the revolute margin of the
frond; the lateral veins not anastomozing

Family 4. Adiantacea;. Thecce in linear or oblong
clusters {sori), covered by a marginal or sub-mar-
ginal elongated portion of the frond on its superior
cuticle in the form of an indusium.

7. Adian’tum, [page 49 ] Sori oblong or roundish, covered

by a portion of the frond reflexed, and a prolonged
portion of its membranous margin forming an indusium,
opening interiorly.

8. Loma’ria, [page 51.] Sori a continuous line on each

side of the mid-rib, covered by a continuous indusium ,
the lateral veins not extending beyond the indusium.

9. Pteris, [page 52.] Sori continuous leanear, marginal,

covered by a continuous marginal indusium.

Family 5. AsPLENiACEiE. Thecce in elongate clusters ;
sori covered by an indusium.

10. Asplenium, [page 57.] Sori oblong or linear, lndu -

sium of the same shape, arising from the lateral veins,
and opening on one side longitudinally towards the

mid-rib.

11. Scolopendrium, (page 78.] Sori linear, transverse on

lateral veins, always double. Indusium appearing single
from both opening on the inner edge and attached on
the outer.

12. Ceteracii, [page 81.] Sori oblong or linear, clusters,

scattered. Indusium obsolete, lateral veins anastomozing.

Family 6. Aspidiace^e. Theca in circular clusters [sori)
covered by an indusium .

13. Cystop’teris, [page 84.] Sori roundish clusters. In¬

dusium inserted by a broad base, with the thecae, to

SYNOPSIS OF THE GENERA.

the frond, and containing the thecae like a cup; its free
margin ragged.

14. Polystichium, [page 89-] Sort roundish clusters, scat¬
tered. lndusium orbicular or nearly so, attached by
the centre only.

15- Lastrjea, [page 96.] Sori roundish clusters, scattered
lndusium reniform.

Section 2. Thecce attached in a receptacle situated on the
margin of the frond.

Family 7. HymenophyllacejE, (as the section).

16. Trichomanes, [page 119*] Thecce within a marginal

cylindrical or suburceolate monophyllus receptacle which
is of the same texture as the frond, opening above, and
furnished with an exserted bristle-like appendage.

17. Hymenophyllum, [page 122.] Thecce within a marginal

two-valved receptacle, which is of the same texture as
the frond, opening above; not furnished with a bristle¬
like appendage.

SUB-ORDER I.

Lycopodiacea;. — Club-moss.

Stem solid vascular. Fructifications sessile in the axis of
the leaves or bracteas. 7 hecce bursting by distinct valves, and
containing minute powdery matter or sporules, marked at the
apex with three minute radiating lines.

1. Lycopodium, [page 125.] Thecce one celled, two-valved,
containing a fine powdery matter ; and others, three*
valved, containing a few large sporules. — Herbaceous
playits, dry and rigid , with undivided scale-like leaves ,
imbricating the stem and branches.

SUB-ORDER II.

MaksileacejE — Pepperworts.

Creeping Plants. Fructifications inclosed in leathery invo¬
lucres that are near the root of the plant. Thecce or concegtacles

SYNOPSIS OF THE GENERA.

of two kinds — one consisting of membraneous sacs, moist and
tumid, containing germinating sporules ; the others, mem¬
branous sacs, containing a gelatinous matter and numerous
powdery grains.

1. Isoetes, [page 133.] Involucres formed by the dilated

base of the leaves and enveloping the Thecce , some
containing large and others numerous granular sporules.
Sporules both rough and angular.

2. Pilularia, [page 135.] Thecce naked axillary, containing

in its upper upper part sessile corpuscles, which emit
a yellow pollen or dust ; and below these are other
sessile bodies, which become single grained fruit.

FLORIGRAPHIA BRITANNIC A.

CLASS XXIV.

CRYPTOGAMTA ( part of.)

The Equisetums, or the Horse-tail plants, are very remarkable,
and seem to stand apart from near alliance with the other vegetable
tribes. They are usually arranged with or next in order to the Ferns ;
but their affinity to them is by no means obvious. Lindley remarks
that “ in the arrangement and appearance of their reproductive organs
they have a striking resemblance to Zamia, and in general aspect to
Casaurina. Their germination is thatof cellularplants, and approaches
nearly to Mosses. Upon the whole, they must be considered an ex*
ceedingly anomalous tribe, approaching Coniferee, through Cycadacese,
more closely than anything else.”

The true stems are creeping, underground, as in the more
humble form of ferns, called rhizoma; they are jointed, as are the
upper stems or branches, but beneath the surface of the ground or
water they put out from the joints whorls of radicles, which are more
or less branched and slender, while from the upper joints arise simple
or divided branches, jointed, but without any leafy expansion. The
whole are fistulous, with solid joints or nodi at intervals, where they
are separable, and surrounded with a membranous toothed sheath.
The stem is either simple or branched at the base of the joints, and
is more or less deeply striated or ribbed, silicious particles being

B

10

EQUISETUM.

[class XXIV.

a

C

secreted in the cuticle, and alternating with the ribs : the cylinder of
the stem is perforated longitudinally with fistular cavities, but its
general substance consists of cellular matter more or less elongated,
and mixed with bundles of ringed vessels, which are connected with
those cavities ; the ribs are hardened woody tubers, and the stomata
are arranged in longitudinal lines on the cuticle. The parts of fruc¬
tification are collected into a spike-like form, and terminate the stem
or branches; they consist of closely arranged whorls of peltate scales,
each scale hearing on its lower surface an assemblage of cases of
theca, which burst longitudinally, and contain granular bodies of
a green colour, each have four elastic filaments coiled around it.
These filaments are thickened or club-shaped at the free end ; and
intermixed with them are discovered also within the thecae smaller
simple granular bodies, which by some are considered the pollen. We
have given figures of these extremely beautiful microscopic organs,
in their various stages of developement, from a plate illustrative of
“ The Reproductive Or¬
gans of Equisetum, by
Mr. Joseph Henderson”
published in the 18th vol.
of the Transactions of the
Linnsean Society, London
Eig. a is a single sporule,
enveloped in its own in¬
tegument, having at each
end minute appendages,
which are supposed to be
the points of its con¬
nection when in the theca at an earlier stage ; fig. b shows the scarcely
visible commencement of the sutures in the integument, and which
are seen more advanced in fig. c, and fully formed in fig. d, where
it is seen about to separate into its four filaments; fig. e is an end
view of the same, showing the dilated portion ; fig. / is a sporule
fully formed, with the filaments unrolling themselves; fig. g, the
sporule with its outer tunic, as it is seen after immersion in dilute
tincture of iodine.

The germination of these sporules has been a favourite subject of
investigation with many persons, and some have supposed them to be
true seeds, and to have a cotyledon or seed lobe, as in monocotyle-
donous plants. We have given the following illustrations of the

CLASS XXIV.

EQUISETUM.

11

developement of the sporules from Vaucher, who has paid much
attention to the subject, and from which it would seem that their
developement is much more like that of mosses than of monocoty-
ledonous seeds. Fig. a is a sporule beginning to enlarge ; b, it is more
pointing into a root ; c, the root is formed, and the upper part more
swollen ; d> the same still more advanced ; e, the same with its first
whorl of branches; /, with the stem beginning to be formed; g, the
same the natural size. Agardh, in describing the progress of this
germination, says — “from three to fourteen days after they are sown,
they send down a filiform hyaline, somewhat clavate, simple root, and

protrude a confer-
oid cylindrical
btuse articulated
Drulous thread,
ither two lobed (in
£. pratense) at
he apex, or simple
in E. palustre).
lome days after,
everal branches
row out, and are
gglutinated to
ether, forming a
iody resembling a
mndle of confer-
void threads, each

d

of which pushes out its own root.” And Bischoff (in Nov. Act. Acad.
N. Cur. 14. t. 44.) says, that he finds the confervoid threads or
numerous processes of cellular developement go on growing and com¬
bining until a considerable cellular mass is formed ; then this mode of
developement ceases, and a young bud is created, which springs up in
the form of the stem of the Equisetum, at once completely organised,
with its air cells, its central cavity, and its sheaths, the first of which
^s formed before the elongation of the stem out of the original cellular

matter.

The Equisetacese, though a small tribe, and consisting of but one
genus, are distributed in all parts of the globe, from the Equator to
the Polar circles ; but they are most numerous in the tropical regions,
and vary greatly in magnitude, according to the temperature where
they grow. The E. scirpioides is a very minute plant, found

12

EQU1SETUM.

[class XXIV.

amongst moss at the root of trees in North America ; and E. rep tans,
equally small, is a native of the hare mountain regions of Lapland ;
while our E. Telmateia grows four to eight feet high, but this even is
minute compared with those majestic species which flourished at an
earlier period of the globe, and are now only known in their fossil
state, and which the laborious investigations of Brongniart, Hutton,
Lindley, and others, have brought into notice. They occur not only
in the coal formations, but in the marls of the Lias and Oolite strata.
It is an extremely interesting subject of inquiry how those masses of
vegetable matter which form the coal strata should have been col-
lected together, and the causes which were in operation not only for
their growth and developement, but which annihilated them; for none
of the fossil forms either of the Equisetums or Ferns, can be
recognised amongst the now existing species.

The Equisetums are remarkable for the quantity of siliceous parti¬
cles secreted in the cuticle, which gives them a rough feeling to the
touch. Dr. Brewster subjected a portion of the cuticle to the analysis
of polarized light under a high magnifying power, by which means he
detected a most beautiful arrangement of these flinty particles,
which he states are distributed in two lines parallel to the axis of the
stem, and that they extend over the whole surface of the cuticle, and
that “ the greater number of the particles form simple straight lines,
but the rest are grouped into oval forms, connected together like the
jewels of a necklace by a chain of particles, forming a sort of curvi-
lineal quadrangle, these rows of oval combinations being arranged in
pairs. Many of these particles which form the straight lines do not
exceed the five-hundredth part of an inch in diameter.” Dr. Brewster
also observed the remarkable fact that each particle has a regular axis
of double refraction. In the straw and chaff of wheat, barley, oats,
and rye, he noticed analagous phenomena, but the particles were
arranged in a different manner, and displayed figures of singular
beauty. From these data the learned Doctor concludes “ that the
crystalline portions of silex and other earths which are formed in
vegetable fibres, are not foreign substances of accidental occurrence,
but are integral parts of the plant itself, and probably perform some
important function in the process of vegetable life.” — Grevill El.
Edineus, p. 214. So great has the quantity of silex thus depo¬
sited been found in the cuticle of E. hyemale, that Mr. Sweight has
been enabled to decompose and remove the vegetable matter without
injuring the silicious skeleton formof the stem.

■

CLASS XXIV.]

EQUISETUM.

13

GENUS. EQUISETUM. — Linn. Horsetail.

Gen. Char. Fructification terminal, in cone-like spikes or catkins
consisting of peltate scales, on the underside of which are from
four to seven involucres, which open longitudinally, and contain
numerous globose bodies, enfolded by four filaments, club-shaped
at their extremity, and highly hygrometrical. — [Rigid leafless
branched plants , with striated fistulous stems and branches, in the
cuticle of which silex is secreted, numerously jointed, with sheathing
toothed articulations l]

1. Fertile stems simple, succulent ; barren stems with whorled
branches.

1. E. Telmateia, Ehrh. (Eig. 1567.) Great mud Horsetail. Fertile
stem simple, terminating in an obtuse spike, the sheaths numerous,
large, funnel-shaped, with about twenty ribs, each rib terminating in
as many subulate teeth; sterile stems smooth, bearing numerous
whorls of nearly erect simple unequally octagonal rough branches, the
alternate furrow widest, their sheaths four toothed.

Newman’s British Ferns, p. 67. — E. fiuviatile. — English Botany, t.
2022. —English Flora, vol. iv. p. 324.— Hooker, British Flora, ed. 4.
vol. i. p. 393.

Root slender, fibrous, in whorls from the joints, the underground
stems long, deep black, spreading. The stems are of three kinds. 1.
simple, unbranched, bearing only a spike ; 2. bearing spike and
whorls of branches ; 3. bearing whorls of branches only. The fertile
stem is erect, simple, from nine to fifteen inches long, round, smooth,
succulent, pale brown, more or less numerously jointed, and from
each joint arises a large sheath, loose, funnel shaped, especially the
upper ones; the lower half of the sheath is a pale greenish brown, the
upper part brown, membranous, striated with the numerous green
ribs, which terminate in the slender subulate teeth, the catkin is from
two to three inches long, and from one to one and half inches in cir¬
cumference in its thickest part, the scales are very numerous, and
arranged in whorls, the lower ones usually indistinct separate whorls,
the rest closely crowded. Barren stems erect, often attaining the
height of seven feet, and nearly two inches in circumference, though
the usual size is about five feet, and an inch in circumference about
its middle, but thicker below, and very slender at the top, quite

14

EQUISETUM.

[class XXIV.

smooth, white, or pale green, hut the lower joints become dark brown,
almost black ; from each joint arises a sheath, which is about half an
inch long, the lower half is a pale green, the upper is dark brown, and
divided into teeth, the former is impressed with about thirty furrows,
the intervening spaces forming a flatfish rib, or shallow channeb
which is prolonged into a setiform tooth, the elevated margins uniting
together, and forming the dark mid-rib of the tooth, its margins are
dilated into a thin membrane, often shaggy, pale brown, and fre¬
quently united together, from the base of the sheath, except a few at
the bottom of the stem, and several crowded together; from the
base of the sheath arise whorls of slender branches, each branch
arising from the base of the rib of the sheath, the branches of the
lower whorls are short and recurved, but those of the upper are often
nine and erect ; the branches are for the most part simple, but occa¬
sionally it is branched at the second joint, the colour of the branches
is a delicate cheerful green, each branch is slender, and composed of
from six to ten jointed pieces, of an unequally octagonal form, com¬
posed of eight elevated ribs, rough, with silicious particles, the alter
nate intervening furrows being as wide again as the other; the sheaths
at the joints are short, funnel-shaped, four toothed, each tooth being
formed by a prolongation of the approximating ribs of the branch,
and uniting at the apex of the tooth, the sides are pale, thin, membra¬
nous, occasionally the branches have ten ribs and furrows, and then
the sheaths have five teeth. Besides the barren and fertile stems
described, there is not unfrequently found also a third kind, bearing
both branches and a spike of fructification, but the whole plant is
smaller, and appears to be in a starved state : indeed it seems to be
the opinion of several Botanists that this peculiarity is caused from
the want of a sufficient supply of moisture.

Habitat. — Sand banks and dry ditches ; not unfrequent.

Perennial ; in fruit in April.

This is the largest and most handsome of our species of Equiseta.
It is much smoother than the E. hyemale, and is not like it used for
any household purposes. It is affirmed by Linnaeus that the rein¬
deer, which refuses to eat hay, will eat this plant, and that it is cut
as fodder for kine, but that it is not acceptable to horses. Accord¬
ing to Haller, this plant was eaten by the common people among the
Romans ; but as this, as well as several other species, form sub_
terranean tubers, something like potatoes, and abound in starchy
matter, it is not improbable to be the Chara, mentioned by Caesar

[class XXIV.

EQUISETUM.

15

16

EQUISETUM.

CLA99 XXIV.]

(De Bello Curie, 1. 3. o. 40.) The roots of these Chara, it is stated,
were eaten either mixed with milk, or made into a kind of bread-
During the civil war they at one time very greatly relieved Caesar’s
army, which he states was in Spain, and was much straightened in
the supplies of ordinary provisions ; and at the time when Pompey’s
soldiers exultingly spoke of the famine, those of Caesar, to show them
the mistake of their conjectures, frequently threw among the ranks
loaves of Chara bread. The illustrations we have given of this
Equisetum are the natural size of an ordinary plant, but the section
of the stem and the sheath of the branch are magnified to show more
clearly their structure. Few plants are more gracefully elegant in
their port than this when growing in its native situation, and free from
the shade and drip of trees. It is the largest and most stately of any of
the now known existing species, though but a dwarf compared with
those found in a fossil state, and passed for ever as living plants from
our earth. It is not unfrequent in various parts of the Continent in
sandy places ; and we have specimens from the Island of Madeira,
which do not differ in any respect from those found in a more northern
climate.

2. E. arven'se, Linn. (Fig. 1569.) Corn field Horsetail. Fertile
stem simple, terminating in an obtuse spike, the sheaths loose, funnel-
shaped, with about ten ribs, each rib terminating in as many lanceo¬
late teeth ; sterile stems smooth, bearing numerous sheaths, the upper
ones furnished with whorls of quadrangular branches, their sheaths
four toothed, and rough.

English Botany, 2020. — English Flora, vol. iv p. 324. — Hooker,
British Flora, ed. 4 vol. i. p. 393. — Newman’s Ferns, p. 77.

Loots whorl ed, fibres at intervals on the long creeping branched
underground stems. The fertile and barren stems are distinct from
the same rliizoma, the fertile stem is erect, about ten inches high,
round, smooth, succulent, a pale brown colour, without the appear¬
ance of silicious particles, the joints are about eight, each internode
upwards being longer than the one below it, the sheaths large, funnel,
shaped, pale yellow colour at the base, dark brown upwards, about
ten ribbed, each rib terminating in a lanceolate pointed tooth, the
furrows between the ribs are pale, and form a pale membranous
margin to each tooth. The spike is about an inch and a quarter long,
somewhat tapered upwards, the point obtuse, of a pale delicate brown
or rosy red hue, the whorls of scales very various in number, the
lower one often distant from the others. The barren stem, which is

CLASS XXIV.]

EQUISETUM

19

until the perfect one has withered, is
long again, nearly erect, slender, espe-
glaucous green colour, from eight
studded over with minute silicious par.

not matured
mostly about as
cially above, of a
to sixteen ribbed, \\
tides, the joints are V about twenty, the lower ones at the

c

19

EQUISETUM.

tCLASS XXIV.

root crowded, five or six above, these are distant, and furnished with
sheaths only ; the six or eight above these bear whorls of simple
branches, and the upper ones are simple, similar to those of the
branches. The sheaths of the stem are short, tubular, with the same
number of ribs as the stem, and a corresponding number of teeth’
which are lanceolate, brown at the points, and mostly with a mem¬
branous margin. The whorls of branches arise immediately below
the sheaths, from the furrows of the stem, and are the same number ;
each branch is furnished at its base with a pale brown short toothed
membranous sheath, is from four to eight inches long, simple or
branched, spreading, four angled, with a row of silicious particles on
each angle, ten to twelve jointed, each joint furnished with a close
short sheath , terminating in four long acute colourless teeth, with pale
membranous margins, the mid-rib terminating in a sharp point.

Habitat. — Corn fields and waste places ; very common.

Perennial ; in fruit in April.

This is the most commonly distributed and the most abundant of
our native species of Equisetum, and, indeed, it is in many places a
great nuisance to the farmer in his corn fields, as well as to the gar¬
dener in his grounds, for the roots grow rapidly, and spread exten¬
sively, and are with difficulty extirpated. As far as we know, it is
applied to no useful or economical purpose, and is not eaten by cattle
at any time from choice, but from necessity ; it grows very quickly,
and speedily comes to perfection ; but the barren stems, so different
from the fertile and more succulent ones, continue longer, and seem
in the economy of nature to be for the purpose of purifying the
proper juices of the plant, and strengthening the roots impoverished
by the fruit-bearing stems.

The illustrations are drawn from ordinary grown plants, and are of
the natural size, except the section of the barren stem, and the sheath
of the branches given in page 17, which are magnified, to show
more clearly their structure.

3. E. umbro'sum, Willd. (Fig. 1569.) Shady Horsetail. Fertile
stem simple, often becoming branched, the sheaths large, loose,
funnel-shaped, pale, with from ten to fifteen slender awl-shaped dark
brown teeth, the spike ovate, pale brown, sessile, or nearly so ; sterile
stem rough, its sheaths much smaller, the upper ones furnished with
whorls of simple branches, their sheaths short, with three ovate
acute teeth.

CLASS XXIV.]

EQUISETUM

19

Newman’s Ferns, p. 63. — E. Drummondii. — English Botany Suppl.
t. 2777. — Hooker, British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p. 393.

Roots slender whorled branches, at intervals on the long creeping
black underground stems. The fertile and barren stems are usually
quite distinct, the former bearing fruit only, and the latter only
branches, but sometimes the fertile stem puts out branches also. The
fertile stems are about six inches high, of a pale yellowish green
colour, slightly striated, numerously jointed, and the internodi almost
entirely covered with the large loose funnel-shaped sheaths , nearly
white, the teeth are brown, awl-shaped, with a thin membranous
margin, and a mid-rib elongated into the point; they are mostly
about twenty in number, the same as the ribs of the sheath. The
spike is ovate, sessile, becoming elevated on a short footstalk, of a pale
brown colour, the scales are almost hexagonal in form, with a central
depression, and about forty in number. Barren stem commonly
about eighteen inches high, rough, with silicious points, erect, and
about twenty jointed, but the joints are much longer, and the sheaths
much smaller than those of the fertile stem, the lower four or five
sheaths are naked, but the rest are furnished at the base with whorls
of from ten to sixteen branches, simple, at first drooping, becoming
more erect; they are about eight jointed, triangular, and rough, with
silicious points, the sheaths are short, terminating in three ovate
acute teeth, brownish at the point, pale and membranous on the
margin, and the mid-rib terminating before reaching the point.
Those stems bearing both a spike and branches are intermediate
between the exclusively barren and fertile stems, the sheaths are
smaller than those of the fertile stem, but larger than those of the
barren, the whorls are fewer in number, and with a less number of
branches than those of the barren stems, and the spike is not so large.

Habitat. — Banks of the Isla and Esk, Forfarshire, Mr. T. Drum¬
mond ; near Forfar, by the Caledonian Canal, Dr. Graham; and
various parts of Scotland. Near Belfast, Ireland. — Mr. Harvey
In a moist wood near Mereclough, by Manchester. Mr. Woodward’s
herbarium. — Newman Near Winch Bridge, Teesdale. — Mr. Hardy.

Perennial ; in fruit in April.

This beautiful species of Equisetum, it will be seen from the illus¬
trations, (which are drawn of the natural size of the plant), is very
distinct in its characters from the other described species, and though
at present considered a rare plant, will, we doubt not, be found to be
more comnion, as greater attention is directed by Botanists to this

20

EQUISETUM.

[class xxiv.

1570 Equisetum sylvaticum. 1571 Equisetum palustr

Equisetum fiuviatilo.

CLASS XXIV.]

EQUISETUM.

21

genus of plants. It is by no means rare in various parts of the
Continent. Its habit is very different from the other species, and
its very distinctive marked characters of difference are in the section
of the stem and the sheaths of the branches of the barren stem, as
shewn in page 20, as well as those of the fertile one.

2. Fertile stems with whorls of short branches , barren stems with
ivhorls of long branches.

4. E. sylvat'icum, Linn. (Fig. 1570.) Wood Horsetail. — Fertile
stems smooth, becoming branched, as the terminal obtuse spike is
developed, the sheaths large, loose, membranous, lobed ; sterile stems
rough, sheaths much smaller, the upper ones furnished with dense
whorls of slender drooping triangular branches, their sheaths short,
with three slender awl-shaped teeth.

English Botany, t. 1874. — English Flora, vol. iv. p. 323. — Hooker,
British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p. 393. — Newman’s Ferns, p. 77.

Roots slender whorled branches, at intervals, on the long creeping
black underground stems. The fertile and barren stems are both
furnished with branches, and spring from the same rhizoma. The
fertile stem arises from the ground quite naked and simple, but as the
spike is perfected there issue from the base of the upper sheaths
whorls of branches, which mostly put out from each joint short rigid
branchlets ; the stems are round, succulent, with about twelve stria,
of a yellow sickly hue, smooth, or nearly so, the joints very various in
number, crowded at the base, becoming more distant upwards ; the
sheaths large, loose, striated, with the same number of ribs as there
are on the stem, the lower half pale green, the upper bright brown,
and membranous, divided into several lobes. The spike is about an
inch long, somewhat tapered upwards, and obtuse at the apex, its
scales are dark russet brown, and about eighty in number. The
barren stem, which makes its appearance at the same time as the
fertile, is more slender, rougher, and its sheaths much smaller, the
lower ones are naked, but the upper ones are furnished with a whorl
of crowded branches, arising from the furrows of the stem, conse¬
quently the same number. The branches are slender, triangular, and
roughish, with minute silicious points, and about twelve jointed, the
first joint has often four angles, and slender intermediate ribs, the
upper ones gradually become smaller and shorter, and from the lower
joints of many of them arise two or three slender branchlets. The
basal sheath is pale brown, membranous, the rest are short, pale,

22

EQU1SETUM.

[class xjcit

class xxiv.] EQUISETUM. 23

with three awl-shaped teeth, the mid-rib being a continuation of the
angle of the branch, and is prolonged to the apex.

Habitat. — Moist woods, shady banks, and hedges ; frequent.

Perennial ; in fruit in April and May.

This very elegant species of Equisetum is generally distributed,
and so distinctive in its characters from all the other of our native
plants, as not to be confounded with them. Our illustrations are
drawn of the natural size of one of the ordinary plants, and from
the magnified sheath, and section of the stem, given with the barren
plant on the opposite page, it will be seen how beautiful and different
it is in the arrangement of its parts from those of the other species.

3. Fertile and barren stems similar.

§ Stems branched.

5. E. palus'tre, Linn (Fig. 1571.) Marsh Horsetail. Fertile and
barren stems similar, nearly smooth, with about eight deep furrows,
branched, the sheaths slightly swollen upwards, with about eight
sulcated ribs, terminating in lanceolate brown tipped teeth, with pale
membranous margins, the branches simple, deeply five or six fur¬
rowed, their sheaths close, terminating in five or six teeth, similar to
those of the stem.

English Botany, t. 2021. — English Flora, vol. iv. p. 325. — Hooker,
British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p. 394. — Newman’s Ferns, p. 43.

/?. polystachion, Willd. Smaller, with the upper whorls of branches
terminating in small compact spikes.

y. alpinum, Hook. Much smaller, with four or five angles and
teeth, the sheaths to upper branches abortive.

nudum, He Cand. Stem prostrate, nearly branchless.

Roots slender whorled branches from the joints of the long branched
black smooth and shining rhizoma. The stem is usually erect, about
fifteen inches high, with about eight deep furrows and prominent
ribs, slightly rough, with minute silicious particles; the joints are
from ten to eighteen in number, the three or four at the base are
crowded together, the rest are from an inch to an inch and half apart,
the sheaths are loose around the stem, but nearly cylindrical, with as
many ribs as there are on the stem, but towards the top it is more or
less channeled, which channels, however, do not extend to the point
or the base, the teeth are lanceolate, brown or black, with a pale
membranous margin, the upper joints are furnished with whorls of
simple erect or spreading branches, the same in number as the furrows

24 EQUISETUM. [class xxiv.

of the stems from whence they arise, or fewer, they are four or five
ribbed, and divided into from six to twelve joints, the basal sheath is
short, almost black, and membranous, the rest are close, with the
same number of ribs as the branch, sulcated, and terminating in pale
brown lanceolate teeth, with white membranous margins, the branches
are barren, or terminating in a spike. Sometimes the whole plant is

barren, and the
stem prolonged,
simple, slender,
like one of the
branches of its
whorls ; occa¬
sionally the fer¬
tile stems are
simple, without
branches, and
terminating in
a spike : the
sjoiJce is small,
at first ovate,
close, and ap¬
parently sessile
in the bottom
of an enlarg¬
ed bell-shaped
sheath, after¬
wards it be¬
comes more
open and elon¬
gated, and paid-
in colour, stand-
inguponitsown
pedicel ; in the

proliferous va¬
rieties, the spike terminating the stem, often is matured, and withers

away before those on its branches are perfected.

Habitat. — Boggy soil, not unfrequent. 0. a rich loamy wet soil.
r-Boggy places near springs in the higher parts of the Breadalbane
Mountains. Dryer sandy situations.

Perennial ; in fruit in June and July.

CLASS XXIV.]

EQUISETUM.

25

This species is subjected to very great variations in its general
characters. Our illustration (Fig. 1571) is an ordinary sized plant
drawn of the natural size and proportion, and is the normal type of
it ; but one of the most distinctive variations to which it is liable
is that which is called polystachion, of which we have given a
drawing of the natural proportions, of the upper part of a specimen.
(See plate, p. 24.) It is remarkable from the branches of the two upper
whorls each terminating in a small black compact spike. The terminal
spike in the specimen which we have drawn is larger than the others
but it is sometimes found that the spike terminating the stem is not
larger than those of the branches, and occasionally it is perfected and
decayed before the others are matured Another variety is found in
high mountainous marshes, and is known by its stem and branches
being only four angled, or at most five, and its sheaths with the

same number of teeth ; its branches are abortive, and is the variety
alpinum, Hook. Another variety, which has received the appellation
of nudum, is as small as the last, but is quite simple, without

whorled branches, except very short ones at
the base. From the transverse section of the
stem of this species it will be seen how similar
it is in its structure to that of E. arvensis,
though in other respects quite different, and not
to be confounded with it in distinguishing the
species. It is a generally distributed plant in
marshy districts, but has not, that we are aware of, been applied to
any useful purpose : it is not apparently relished as food by any
animals, and though this or some of its allied species appear to have
been used by some of the old physicians as astringents, they are
now totally out of use.

6. E. jluviat'ile, Linn. (Fig. 1572.) Water Horsetail. Fertile and
barren stems similar, smooth, with about sixteen striae, quite simple
or branched, the sheaths short, pale and close below, more open
above, with about sixteen black awl-shaped teeth, with a very narrow
pale membranous margin, the branches rigid, simple, four to eight
angled, the sheaths with four to eight awl-shaped slender teeth.

Newman’s British Ferns, p. 51. — E. limosum. — English Botany, t.
929. —English Flora, vol. iv. p- 326. — Hooker, British Flora, ed. 4.
vol. i. p. 894.

Root, whorls of black fibres from the base of the submerged
sheaths, and the joints of the long dark brown spreading rhizomas.

D

EQUISETUM.

[class xxtr

26

The stems are extremely variable in size and luxuriance, from two to
four feet long, and are quite simple, and terminating in a spike, or
barren, or are more or less furnished with perfect whorls of about
twenty nearly erect simple branches, of greater or less length, or im¬
perfect whorls of few branches. The stem is always erect, and the
lower part submerged, the whole plant is smooth, but the submerged
portion is glossy. The joints are about an inch apart, and striated,
with from ten to twenty slightly elevated ribs, which become more
distinct after the plant is dry ; the lower joints are always naked, but
the upper ones are more or less furnished with whorls of branches.
The sheaths are short for the size of the plant, close at the base, but
more open at the top, and furnished with about sixteen black awl-
shaped teeth, with a very narrow paler membranous margin to each,
the lower part is usually green, like the stem, but occasionally they
are altogether black, and especially those in the lower part of the
stem. They are striated with from ten to twenty ribs, which are pro¬
longed into the apex of the teeth ; the branches are ascending,
simple, more or less numerously jointed, and from four to eight
angled, each of the striae becomes double before entering the sheath,
but again unite before reaching the point of the sheath, which
are from four to eight in number, awl-shaped, with a black tip. The
sqnhe ovate, obtuse, terminal, short, and elevated on a short footstalk,
swollen upwards, the scales are black, about a hundred in number.

Habitat. — Marshes, pools, ditches, and occasionally in running
streams.

Perennial ; in fruit in June and July.

This species is a generally distributed and common plant, and
used, according to Linneeus, in Sweden as food for cattle, in order
that the cows may give more milk ; and in his “ Lachesis Lapponica’’
he observes that “ the rein-deer fed with evident avidity on the Great
Water Horsetail ( Equisetum JiuviatileJ, which the Laplanders call
Ashe, though it was in a dry state, and though they will not eat
common hay. How unaccountably negligent,” he continues, “ are
the Laplanders not to collect in the course of summer a stock of this
plant and of the rein-deer moss ( Lichen rangiferinus) for winter
fodder ! They would then have some provision for the herd when
the country is covered with an impenetrable crust of frozen snow,
and not hazard the loss of all they are worth in the world.” It does
not appear, however, to be a favourite food with cattle, though occa¬
sionally eaten from choice by them. A remarkable circumstance

CLASS XXIV.]

EQUISETUM

27

relative to this plant is related by Mr. Knapp in his “ Journal of a
Naturalist.” He says, “ A large stagnant piece of water in an inland
county with which I was intimately acquainted, and which I very
frequently visited for many years of my life, was one summer sud¬
denly infested with an astonishing number of the short-tailed water
rat ( Arvicola amphibia), none of which had previously existed there.
Its vegetation was the common product of such places, excepting that
the larger proportion of it was densely covered with its usual crop,
the Smooth Horsetail (Equisetum Jiuviatile). This constituted the
food of the creatures, and the noise made by their champing it we
could distinctly hear in the evening at many yards’ distance.”

The drawing which we have given of this species is of the natural
size and proportion of an ordinary grown plant, but it is subject to

great variations as to size, and in being
simple, or with from one to six or eight
whorls of branches, and these branches,
though usually short, are sometimes long,
and short and long ones are very com-
mouly mixed together on the same plant.
They, too, are very various in number ;
occasionally they are as numerous as there
are striae ou the stem, but more generally
they are much fewer and very variable in number. Sometimes the
branches of the upper whorls become proliferous, similar to the variety
which we have illustrated of E. palustre.

From the magnified joint of the branches given in our illustra
tion, and the above transverse section of the stem, it will be seen
how distinct it is in its characters from all our other species.

§§ Stems without branches, or rarely branched.

7. E. liye'male, Linn. (Fig. 1573.) Rough Horsetail. Fertile and
barren stems similar, simple, or branched at the base, erect, very
rough, with fourteen to twenty-one ribs ; sheaths close, cylindrical,
whitish, with a black rim at the top and base, and with as many
teeth as there are ribs on the stem, the mid-rib furrowed, and with
two slender lateral ones towards the top, united at the apex of the
slender but deciduous point, the teeth of the floral sheath always per¬
sistent; spike small, black, pointed.

English Botany, 915.— English Flora, vol. iv p. 320. — Hooker,
British Flora, ed. 4 vol. i. p. 394. — Newman’s Ferns, p 17.

Root fibrous, branched, black, as is the branched rhizoma, which

28

EQUISETUM.

[class xxiv.

creeps to a considerable extent. Stem mostly erect and simple, when
branched it is only a single one from the lower joint, and in¬
serted below the black ring of the sheath. The ribs are very variable
in number, depending upon the size of the stem, but rarely more than
twenty, very rough, with silicious particles, the internodes are two inches
long or more, cylindrical, or somewhat swollen in the middle. The
sheaths are various in number, mostly about fourteen, and are generally
shorter and smaller towards the top of the stem ; the ribs are the
same number as those of the stem, with a shallow furrow, which is
continued into those of the stem also, but rendered less distinct by
the silicious particles ; they are nearly cylindrical, but rather wider at
the top, at first they are of a pale green colour, with a black margin,
afterwards becoming entirely black, and ultimately the central part
is changed into white, leaving a black ring at the base and margin ;
the teeth are black, membranous, flexuous, bristle-shaped, but soou
fall away, and leave the margin crenated: the upper sheath is funnel-
shaped, and its teeth are always present. The spike is ovate, small,
dark, with a terminal point, at first sessile in the bosom of the sheath,
but when matured elevated on a short footstalk.

Habitat. — Boggy shady places; not common, especially in the
Midland and Southern Counties of England.

Perennial ; in fruit in July and August.

The quantity of silicious particles deposited in the cuticle of this
species is greater than in that of any other, and from this great
roughness rendering it a natural file, it has been from time imme¬
morial used for polishing wood, ivory, brass, &c., and is still sold in
the shops for that purpose under the name of Butch Pushes, a name
they have obtained from the circumstance of their being imported
from Holland, where on the banks of the canals, &c., it grows in
great profusion, and is of essential use from its strong matted roots
binding and holding up the embankments. It was formerly used as
an astringent, and for stopping bleeding at the nose, but for these
purposes it is now quite out of use.

We are told by Lightfoot, in his Flora Scotica, that “ some enter¬
tain an opinion that if cows chance to feed upon” this Equisetum,
“ their teeth will drop out ; how far this may be true,” he further
adds, “I know not, but I am persuaded that the pasture must be very
bad^vhen they are compelled to eat such food” The same author
tells us that in Northumberland the dairymaids use them for the
purpose of scouring and cleansing their milk pails, &c. A very re-

CLASS XXIV.]

EQUISETUM.

29

markable formation of spikes oil the stems of this species has been
observed and described by Mr. Briclian, in the Phytologist, 374.
He says, “ On the top of many stems of E. hyemale I observed a
pile of small, dark brown, membranous, elastic, conical, inverted
sheaths, of the same substance as the teeth of the sheath which em¬
braces the catkin, increasing in width upwards, and so closely
embracing each other that the rim only of each is seen, except the
highest and largest, which gives the top of the pile a conical shape.
Although scarcely an inch in length, it resembles an inverted abortion
of the plant. Its lower end is at first inserted in the uppermost
sheath, and surrounded by several small sheaths of a texture similar
to its own, and placed within each other. It is afterwards quite
protruded, and gradually falls off, leaving a flexuous apex, somewhat
like that of the catkin, whose formation I am persuaded it precedes.

On dissecting the top of several
stems, from which the pile of cones
seem but recently to have fallen, I
found the germ of the catkin com¬
pletely enclosed within its sheath
the teeth of which not yet separate,
form by their union the apex, which
appears when the pile falls off.
Dissection, however, when the cones
are present, seems often to discover
an abortive germ. The number of
inverted sheaths in one of these piles are about twelve ; what their
peculiar function may be I cannot even conjecture.”

Our illustration of this species is that of an ordinary sized speck
men, and we have drawn it of the natural size, but the sheath given in
the plate, and the above transverse section of the stem, are magnified
portions.

8. E. Mack'aii, Efewm (Fig. 1574.) Maclcay's Horsetail. Fertile
and barren stems similar, simple or branched, erect, very rough, with
eight to fourteen impressed ribs; sheaths close, cylindrical, becoming
black, with slender awl-shaped teeth, having pale membranous mar¬
gins, as numerous as the ribs of the stem ; spike small, black, pointed.

Newman’s Ferns, p. 25. — Babington’s British Botany, p. 391. —
E. elongatum, Hooker, not Willd.

Root, branched fibres, in whorls from the long creeping branched
black rhizoma. Stem mostly several from the same branch of the
rhizoma, and often branched at the base, and occasionally one or

30

EQUISETUM.

[class XXIV

two branches from the up¬
per joints, but usually be
stem is simple, < der
erect, and from one to two
feet high, striated, with
from eight to fourteen fur¬
rowed ribs, very rough, the
internodes are about an
inch and half long, the
sheaths are close, cylindri¬
cal, at first the same colour
as the stem, or paler, with
a narrow black band im¬
mediately under the teeth,
and at length the whole
sheath becomes black, the
ribs are the same number
as the stem, and termi-
minating in black slender
awl-shaped teeth, with pale
membranous margins, brit¬
tle, occasionally two or
three are united together,
the spike is small, black,
compact, pointed, at first
enveloped at the base with
the enlarged sheath, but
becoming elevated on a
short pedicel.

Habitat. — Moist banks
in Mountain Glens in the
North of Ireland and Scot¬
land.

Perennial ; in fruit in
July and August.

This species, which is
nearly allied to E. hyemale,
as will be seen from the
magnified section given in
p. 31, also from the general
formation of the plant, and
the identical arrangements
of their structure, from which
however, it is known as a

Equisetxcm Ramosum.

CLASS XXIV.]

EQUISETUM.

31

species by the sheaths becoming quite black,
the teeth persistent, with a pale membranous
margin, sometimes entirely white. It has
been referred by Sir W. J. Hooker to E.
elongatum , of Willdenow ; but Newman has
shown that it is distinct from that species,
and also that E. elongatum is the same as
E. Mackaii. E- ramosissimum, of Desfontain, which is the

E. ramosum, Schleicher, and is distinguished by being always of a
glaucous green, the branches from the joints solitary, or in whorls of
from two to ten, very slender, often the stem is much branched at
the base, and greatly elongated ; the sheaths are the same colour as
the plant, those of the stem are nearly close, with from eight to ten
ribs, those of the branches are more swollen and looser, and from six
to eight ribbed ; the teeth are lanceolate, awl-shaped, and four ribbed,
they are dark at the base, and the colour is continued into the mid¬
rib, but mostly the upper ones both of the stems and branches are
without colour, or only a pale stain at the base, and generally the two
and sometimes three of the lower radical sheaths are entirely dark
brown or black; the margins of the teeth are always pale, moslly a
pure white, and membranous, the points soon fall off, rarely persis¬
tent; the spike is small, ovate, compact, with black scales, the ter¬
minal one acuminated into a point, the sheath of the spike is much

l its teeth are in all the specimens which we
seen deciduous. We have given illustrations
of this species from specimens collected on
the banks of rivulets near Bale, in Switzer¬
land ; it is not unfrequent also on the sand
banks of the mountain streams of Lucca,
Italy. The magnified portion of the stem
shows its near affinity to the E.gialustre in the
internal arrangements of its vessels, but in other respects they do not
seem to approach each other.

9. E. variega' turn , Schleich. (Fig. 1575.) Variegated Rough Horse¬
tail. Fertile and barren stems similar, with simple whorled branches,
mostly decumbent, with six to eight furrowed and impressed ribs,
roughish ; sheaths short, slightly swollen upwards, the teeth six to
eight, lanceolate, with pale membranous margins, the mid-rib pro¬
jected into a bristle-shaped point, which falls away, and the teeth be¬
come ovate, the upper sheath much the largest, with broader four
ribbed teeth, united at the point; spike small, ovate, pointed.

32

EQUISETUM.

[class XXIV.

English Botany, t. 1087. — English Flora, vol. iv. p. 307. — Hooker,
British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p 394.— Newman’s Ferns, p. 31.

/■?. Wilsoni, Newman. Larger, stouter, erect, smoother.

Newman’s Ferns, p. 39.

Hoot fibrous, often woolly, in whorls from the dark branched spread¬
ing rhizoma. Stems short, mostly decumbent, with short internodes,
about eight rather deep furrows, rough, with silicious particles, the
ribs channeled, and terminating in the lanceolate cuspidate teeth of
the sheaths, which are short, close, the upper ones somewhat swollen
towards the margin, the teeth are dark brown or black, with a thin
pale membranous margin, the upper floral sheath is larger, funnel-
shaped, and embraces the lower part of the spike until it is matured,
the teeth are broader, four ribbed, but the ribs are united at the point,
the long slender point of the teeth often fall away, and the point is
then rounded. Spike small, ovate, black, with an obtuse point, at
first sessile in the bosom of the upper sheath, but afterwards it is
elevated on its own footstalk, the scales are about twenty in number.

Habitat.— Sandy places near the sea. The Mouth of the Mersey,
Southport, Lancashire; Teesdale, Yorkshire ; Irthing, Cumberland.
In Scotland, the Sands of Barry, near Dundee ; the Banks of the Dee •
&c. In Ireland it is not unfrequent, especially at Port Marnock and
Mucross. /5. New Brighton, opposite Liverpool; Mucross, near the
Lakes of Killarney, growing in water.

Perennial ; in fruit in June and July.

This species is nearly allied to the two, E. hyemale and E. Mackaii,
in the structure of the stem, as will be seen by the transverse sections

of each of the species; but this in its usual form
of growth is a much smaller, low, procumbent,
or ascending plant. It is, however, subject to
very great variations, and the variety Wilsoni
approaches very nearly in its size, its erect
growth and structure to E. hyemale, indeed it
seems difficult to fix upon characters which are sufficiently permanent
by which one may be known from the other, and so conflicting are
the opinions of those Botanists who have paid the greatest attention
to the subject, that we rest for the present satisfied to continue it as a
variety of this species, until further observations may enable us to
determine.

\

1577

Ophioglossum vulgatum.

Botrychium lunaria.

1576

CLASS XXIV.]

OPHIOGLOSSUM.

33

GENUS I. OPHIOGLOS'SUM.— Linn. Adder s tongue.

Gen. Char. Theca oblong, two valved, arranged in a straight club-
shaped spike, attached to an undivided frond. — Name o<p ig, otyiog,
a serpent; and yXoo-o-a, a tongue ; from the supposed resemblance
of the spike to the tongue of a serpent.

1. O. vulga' turn, Linn. (Fig. 1576) Common Adder s-tongue. Frond
simple, bearing above the middle an ovate sessile frond, and termi¬
nating in a club-shaped spike.

English Botany, t. 108 — English Flora, vol. iv. p. 316. — Hooker,
British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p. 391. — Newman’s British Ferns, p. 349.

Hoot long, succulent, and brittle, in irregular whorls from the main
root, which descends perpendicularly a considerable depth. Rhizoma
short, fleshy, bearing a solitary frond rarely two, and a lateral bud,
which forms the frond the following year. Frond erect, hollow, about
four inches long, scaly at the base, straight in vernation, very smooth,
round, and hollow, succulent, pale yellowish green, bearing above its
middle a sessile ovate rather acute leafy frond, quite smooth, dark
green, with numerous fine nearly parallel veins, more or less netted
towards the point and margins. Spike linear, club-shaped, formed of
a row on each side of circular or ovate theca, imbedded and closely
crowded, opening transversely for the escape of the sporules, after
which the concave valves remain widely gaping, they are pale brown,
thin and membranous. Sporules numerous, very small, globose,
almost white.

Habitat. — Moist pastures and woods; not unfrequent in England,
less common in Scotland, Wales, and Ireland.

Perennial ; in fruit in August.

This very curious little fern is by no means a rare plant, but in
some parts of the country is so abundant as to seem to usurp the
place of the grasses in the meadow lands, and is thought greatly to
injure the crops. Occasionally remarkable varieties are found, in
which there are from two to six spikes developed, but these are of
rare occurrence, while fronds not bearing any spike are very general,
indeed often more abundant than the spike bearing ones, and some¬
times they are found double, which seems to be the spike developed
into a frond instead of forming its capsules, and sometimes the fronds
are found cut or lobed at the base Formerly the bruised fronds of
this plant boiled in oil was used as an application for the cure of cuts
and bruises, and it would seem to be still used for the same purpose

E

34

BOTRYCHIUM.

[class XXIV

in some parts of the country. Our illustration of this species is
drawn of the size of an ordinary grown plant, the portion of the
capsules are drawn magnified to show their structure and arrange¬
ment, and the few sporules are magnified very considerably, but with
the same power as those of the Botrychium lunaria on the same plate,
to show their relative proportions.

GENUS II. BOTRYCH'IUM.— Svv. Moon-wort.

Gen. Char. Theca globose, two valved, arranged in clusters on the
margin of a compressed branched spike. Name fiords, a hunch
of grapes ; in allusion to the branched clustered rachis.

1. B. Luna'ria , S w. (Fig. 1577.) Common Moon wort. Frond
erect, bearing a solitary pinna, with lunate pinnules, and terminating
in a branched spike of clustered thecae.

Hooker, British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p. 391. — English Flora, vol. iv.
p. 315. Newman’s British Ferns, p. 337. — Osmunda. — -English
Botany, t. 318.

Root long, succulent, brittle, whorls, arising in an irregular manner
from a rather thick central perpendicular one. Rhizoma short,
clothed with brown membranous scales, and enveloping the rudimen¬
tary buds of the two succeeding years. Frond erect, straight in ver¬
nation, from three to six inches high, round, smooth, hollow, bearing
about its middle a single jrinna, of a pale somewhat glaucous green,
quite smooth and glossy, the pinnules alternate and opposite, from three
to eight pairs, fan-shaped, entire, or waved or lobed on the margin,
and sometimes the lower ones bear thecae, and seem to be fertile ; the
veins all arise from the base, and are unequally and irregularly
branched, terminating in the margin. Spike terminal, branched,
compressed, bearing on its margin sessile globose thecae, more or less
crowded together. Thecce rather large, smooth, globose, brown, of
two concave valves, containing a vast number of white sporules,
globose or angular, formed of a very delicate netted transparent mem¬
brane, extended by an internal ring, most beautiful under a powerful
microscope. Rachis round, smooth, hollow, having four bundles of
tubes running through the lower part, two going to the pinna and two
to the spike, each branch runs one on one side of the pinna
and spike, and the other along the opposite, and gives off a filament
to each pinnule and branch of the spike, which are again t divided
into the veins, and terminate in the thecse of the spike, the trunks or

class xxiv.] BOTRYCHIUM. 35

chief branches are united at the base into two, and one seems to
originate in the upper whorl of the roots, the other in the lower.

Habitat. — Dry mountain pastures ; generally distributed throughout
England, less common in Scotland, Wales, and Ireland.

Perennial ; in perfection in June.

The Moon-wort appears to have been much esteemed by the old
botanists and physicians, and many wonderful effects are attributed
to it ; but as the signature physicians placed more confidence in the
form of the plant than the testing of its virtues, so we presume they
must have done in the account they give of the virtues of the present
plant, and used their imaginative faculties rather than reason and
observation, for it seems to have been used, according to Gerarde*
among the alchymists and witches in their dreams and illusions, as
well as a remedy for the cure of dysentery.

The illustration which we have given of this
plant is of the natural size and proportions of an
ordinary grown plant. The theca is magnified to
show its structure, and the sporules are, as seen
under the same magnifying power, as those of
Opliioglossum vulgatum. The marginal sketch is
that of the pinnules of a frond bearing thecae on
the margin. It also shows the veins and the man¬
ner of their distribution, and the hollow rachis and
the bundles of tubes passing down.

Several curious varieties are mentioned as having been found of this
species : the three following are mentioned by Smith : —

/?. Lunaria minor ramosa, Ray ; y. L. racemosa minor adiantifolio,
Breyn; L. minor, foliis dissectis, Ray. And of these he remarks,
“/?. has a branched stalk, bearing several leaves and compound
spikes, alternately disposed ; y. is a very slight variety, with more
jagged leaflets than ordinary; has pinnatifid leaflets, and more
spreading habit. All these varieties, and perhaps others, are found
occasionally, intermixed here and there, with the plant in its proper
or common form ; but never, as far as I could learn, so numerously
as to have the appearance of a distinct species.”

36

OSMUNDA.

[class XXIV.

GENUS III. OSMUNDA. — Linn. Osmund royal or flowering fern.

Gen. Char. Tliecce terminating the frond in branched spike-like
clusters. — Name of doubtful origin.

1. O. rega'lis, Linn. (Fig. 1578.) Common Osmund-royal. Fronds
bi-pinnate; pinnules oblong, obtuse, nearly entire, somewhat auri-
culated on the lower side at the base ; fructification in terminal spiked
clusters.

English Botany, t. 209. — English Flora, vol. iv. p. 314. — Hooker,
British Flora, ed. 4 vol. i. p. 139. — Newman’s British Ferns, p. 331.

Root strong long fibres. Rhizoma large, thick, and tufted. Frond
erect, bi pinnate, varying in height from four to about twelve feet.
Pinnae opposite, rarely alternate, six to twelve inches long, with oppo¬
site or alternate pinnules, on a smooth channeled tapering branch of
the racbis. Pinnules linear oblong, obtuse, dark green above, paler
beneath, mostly auriculated on the lower side at the base, the margin
entire, waved or lobed, the mid-rib prominent, the lateral veins nu¬
merous, slender, forked from near the base, and often again divided,
terminating in the margin, the upper pinnae of the frond are converted
into a spike like cluster of thecae, mostly much crowded, each pinnule
forms a branch of the spike by its mid rib, while the foliaceous part
of it is changed into the numerous thecae. It is not unfrequent to find
specimens which have the pinnae partly changed into thecae, while tbe
remaining portion retains its leafy structure, affording a beautiful
example of the leaves forming the fruit. Thecae globose, opening with
two smooth concave valves, at first green, becoming brown. Sporules
numerous, ovate, smooth. Rachis roundish, smooth, channeled
above, green, becoming brownish, solid, and circinate in vernation.

Habitat — Wet boggy places, margins of woods, &c.; a generally
distributed plant, very frequent in the North-west of England, but
most abundant in Ireland.

Perennial ; in perfection in August.

This is certainly the most striking of our ferns in its port and cha¬
racter, the prince among the present existing British race, and is
usually much admired, especially in its wild localities, for its noble
bearing and very handsome spike of crowded thecae.

“ Auld Botany Ben was wont to jog
Thro' rotten slough and quagmire bog,

CLASS XXIV.]

rOLYPODIUM.

37

Or brimful dykes and marshes dank,

Where J ack-o’-lan terns play and prank,

To seek a cryptogamic store,

Of carex, moss, and fungns hoare,

Of ferns and brakes, and such like sights
As tempt the scientific wights,

On Winter’s day ; but most his joy
Was finding what’s called Osman Roy.”

The rhizoma possesses astringent and styptic properties, and was
formerly used as a tonic and astringent, and considered useful to
weakly constitutions, hut it has now fallen into disuse as a medicine.

The illustration of this plant is the full size and proportions of an
ordinary sized plant. It will be remarked that some of the pinnae
are partly converted on the margin into thecae, while the rest retain
their proper structure, and by this we are enabled to see that the whole
spike is formed in the same manner, and affords us an example of
the very beautiful and remarkable conversion of the leaf into the
fruit. Each little theca is supplied with a branch from one of the
veins, and the two valves into which it bursts are formed by the upper
and lower cuticle of the leaf, while the sporules which it contains are
the cells of the parenchymal structure converted into propagating
particles. The barren fronds differ in no respect from the fertile,
excepting the pinnae being continued to the top, and gradually
diminishing in size to the apex.

GENUS IV. POLYPO'DIUM.— Linn. Polypody.

Gen. Char. Sori circular clusters. Indusium wanting. Frond flat,
the lateral veins not anastomozing. — Name from ttoAu?, many ;
and Ttovg, a foot ; so called from the multitude of roots forming
close entangled patches.

1. P. vul'gare , Linn. (Fig. 1579.) Common Polypody. Fronds
oblong lanceolate, pinnatifid, the pinnae linear, obtuse, or acute,
entire, crenated, serrated or lobed.

English Botany, t. 1149. — English Flora, vol. iv. p. 267. — Hooker,
British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p. 382. — Newman’s British Ferns, p. 111.

Root brown, fibrous, often clothed with a thick pilosity. Rhizoma
somewhat woody, long, creeping, often as thick as the finger, brown,
covered with a dense scaly cuticle, which falls off, and leaves the

POLYPODIUM.

[class xxjv.

38

rliizoma smooth. Fronds usually about eight inches long, sometimes
twenty, erect, becoming drooping, of a cheerful green, smooth, some¬
what paler beneath, of a lanceolate or oblong lanceolate or linear
form, cut to the racliis, or nearly so, into linear pinna, alternate and
rounded or lanceolate at the point, occasionally bifid, the margin
entire, equally or unequally serrated, lobed, or cut into narrow linear
segments, each with a mid rib and lateral veins, tlie lateral veins are
alternate, slender, each three or four branched, the first branch
arising from the base on the side nearest the point terminates about
the middle of the pinnae , and bears at its apex the circular mass of
thecae, the others extend to near the margin, and are thickened at the
apex. B.achis slender, green, channeled above, naked, or scattered
over with a few brown lanceolate scales. Sovi naked circular clusteis,
alternate on the back of the upper pinnae. Thecae numerous, crowded,
globose, with a beaded elastic ring, attached at the base by a slender
pedicel formed of elongated transparent cells, to the apex of the vein.
Sporules ovate, or kidney-shaped, smooth.

Habitat. — Rocks, walls, trunks of trees, roofs, banks, &c.; very
frequent.

Perennial ; in perfection in September.

The figure 1579 of this species, drawn half the natural size, will
give an idea of the general form, as it is found on rocks and
trees, &c. The detached pinnae show the beautiful manner in
which the veins are disposed, their obtuse point, and the ordi.
nary size and disposition of the clusters of thecae. The capsule is
represented as seen with a greatly magnifying power, as well as the
sporules.

The figure of the frond, however, is subject to great variety, from
not more than two inches long, and of a triangular form, to linear
lanceolate and oblong lanceolate, and about twenty inches long; and
its pinnae are subject to some remarkable variation from its normal form
of an entire margin. Fig. a (page 39) is a frond drawn the natural
size, in which it will be seen the pinnae are strongly serrated. Fig. b
(page 40) is a remarkable variety, the end of the pinnae being bifur¬
cated irregularly, as well as the margin unequally serrated. This is
drawn of the natural size, but is only the lower portion of the frond, the
upper half has the pinnae undivided, and the margins irregularly
toothed and waved, almost entire, and bearing fruit abundantly : for
these two specimens we are indebted to Miss S. Ridge. Fig. c are
pinnae on the lower part of a frond, which is eighteen inches long;

CLASS XXIV.]

POLYPODIUM

39

the upper pinnae are lobed and serrated, and the uppermost ones are
simply serrated, it is abundantly in fruit. For beautiful specimens
of this variety we are indebted to Miss Griffiths, who found them
in the neighbourhood of Torbay. Fig. d (page 40) are pinnae drawn
also the natural size, the whole frond measuring twenty-one inches,
but its pinnae are all, except a few, of the uppermost ones, as much

divided : it
is the P.
Cambricum ,
of Linnaeus,
and is our
most beau¬
tiful and ele¬
gant variety
of the spe¬
cies.

The com¬
mon Poly¬
pody, or
Wall Fern,
or Polypody
of the Oak,
was former¬
ly much es¬
teemed for
its expecto¬
rant quali¬
ties, and is
supposed to
be the
“ rheum
purgiug po¬
lypody” of
Shakspear,
but it is not
now used
in this coun¬
try. It is re¬
tained in the list of the^Materica Medica of Italy, and used by the
Italians as a demulcent in the form of a decoction. The fronds?
when burned, afford a vgood deal of carbonate of potass, for which

40

POLYPODIUM.

[class XXIV

CLASS XXIV.]

POLYPODIUM.

41

purpose it is often collected. The ashes are boiled in water, and the
liquor strained and evaporated until crystals are formed. The com¬
mon Polypody loves to fix itself upon the trunks of old trees, the
stumps of the pollard willow, and hornbeam, and the thatched roofs of
buildings, from thence hanging down its graceful fronds in crowded
clusters, it forms an elegant and verdant ornament for a considerable
period of the year.

2. P. Phegop'teris, Linn. (Fig. 1580.) Pale Mountain Polypody.
Fronds triangular, acute, bi-pinnatifid, the pinnae linear lanceolate,
the lower pair standing forward from the others, the lobes ovate,
obtuse, ciliated, the lateral veins alternate, mostly undivided ; sori
marginal.

English Botany, t. 2224. — English Flora, vol. iv. p 269. — Hooker,
British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p. 383. — Newman’s Ferns, p. 115.

Roots long, fibrous, branched, mostly clothed with a thick pilosity-
Rhizoma long, slender, thread-shaped, widely creeping. Fronds from
six to eighteen inches high, of a triangular acute figure, tapering at
the point, the pin nee lanceolate, taper pointed, of a pale green, and
often nearly smooth above, a dull somewhat glaucous green beneath,
and very hairy along the veins, the lower pair of pinnae standing for¬
ward from the others in a very remarkable manner, the lobes divided
to the base, or nearly so, oblong, obtuse, or acutely pointed, entire, or
the lower ones near the rachis serrated, the margin ciliated, with soft
hairs, and somewhat rolled inwards, the lateral veins arise alternately
from the middle one, simple, and terminating in the margin, though
not unfrequently and especially in the lower pinnae they are bifid.
Sori circular naked masses, attached below the point of the lateral
veins near the margin of the pinnae. Thecce small, numerous,
attached at the base by a rather thick pedicel, formed of elongated
cells. The Rachis is long, slender, scattered over with a few lanceo¬
late brown membranous scales, especially at the base, hairy at the
top, and mostly twice as long or longer than the part which forms the
frond.

Habitat. — Shady rocky places in mountainous districts, especially
near water falls ; not unfrequent.

Perennial; in perfection in July.

This beautiful and graceful little plant is often called Beech Fern ;
it throws up its young fronds in May in an horizontal manner, and in
the course of a short time after it is expanded becomes drooping, and
if growing upon the side of rocks it is pendulous ; but in whatever

F

42

POLYPODIUM.

[class xxrr.

situation it grows, it is at once distinguished from all our other species
by the remarkable manner in which the first pair of pinbae stand off
from the others. Its long rachis, triangular shaped fronds, and mar¬
ginal sori are characters also of marked distinction.

Our illustration is drawn one half the natural size. The detached
pinnae are the third pair and of the full size and proportion, showing
the disposition of the sori on one side and the veins on the other1
The thecae is highly magnified, as well as the sporules, which are
ovate, smooth.

3. P. Dryop'teris, Linn. (Fig. 1581.) Tender three branched Poly¬
pody. Frond three branched, quite smooth, brittle, the terminal
branches deflexed, the lateral ones spreading, bi-pinnate, the lobes
oblong, obtuse, sub-crenated, the lateral veins alternate, mostly undi¬
vided; sori marginal.

English Botany, t. 610. — English Flora, vol. iv. p. 269. — Hooker,
British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p. 383. — Newman’s Ferns, p. 123.

Roots fibrous, black. Rldzoma black, wiry, branched, creeping,
often netted together. Fronds ascending about a foot high, three
branched, the terminal one but little larger than the lateral ones, and
is deflexed from the insertion of the lateral ones where it is swollen
and apparently jointed; each division of the frond is of a triangular
figure, and pinnate, the pinna lanceolate, the lower ones opposite, the
pinnules oblong, obtuse, entire, or somewhat crenated on the margin,
especially towards the point. The first pair are each about the same
size, and inserted into the stem with the rachis, so that they form a
cross. The lateral veins are simple, arising alternately from the
middle one, which is mostly zig-zag, and terminate near the margin
in a crowded cluster of sori, which aro often so numerous as to form a
continuous marginal line, or they are more distant. Theca very nume¬
rous, small, each one with a beaded ring encircling it, and attached by
a slender cellular pedicel. Sporules minute, ovate, roughish ; the
rachis is very slender and brittle, a dark brownish purple, quite
smooth, as is the whole frond, except occasionally a very slight
downiness along the mid-rib of the pinnae, and towards the base a few
brown membranous scales.

Habitat. — Mountainous districts, especially in the North of Eng¬
land, Wales, and Scotland. Very rare in Ireland; Knochlaycb
County Antrim ; Mourne Mountains, County Down ; and Maur
Twik.

Perennial ; in perfection in July.

This little Fern is one of our most elegantly formed and delicate

CLASS XXIV.]

POLYPODIUM.

43

species, usually locating itself amongst the rocks and stones in the
wild and mountainous districts, where it can freely enjoy the pure
morning breeze, and be supplied with unpolluted waters.

The drawing of this species is made half the size of an ordinary
plant, as it is grown in elevated situations in the mountains of
Scotland ; but it is found much larger than this in sheltered and

favoured situations. The
magnified pinnules show
the disposition of the
veins and the situation
of the sori at the back.
The theca is highly mag¬
nified, showing its bead¬
ed elastic ring and slen¬
der pedicel, and the
ovate sporules minutely
granulated. The slender
rhizoma, the very
beautiful mode of ver¬
nation, and the man-
of its developement,
may be seen as we have
represented them. The
accompanying marginal
sketch is the terminal
branch drawn of the

natural size and proportion, by which more distinctly will bo seen
the disposition of the pinnules, and the cross-like form of the dis¬
position of the first pair of them.

4. P. calcaWeum, Smith. (Fig. 1582.) Rigid three branched Poly¬
pody. Fronds three branched, all erect, or equally spreading, more
or less downy, with short glandular pubescence, bi-pinnate, the lobes
oblong, obtuse, sub-serrated, the lateral veins alternate, branched or
simple ; sori marginal.

English Botany, t. 1525. — English Flora, vol. iv. p. 270. — Hooker,
British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p 383. — Newman’s British Ferns, p. 131.

Roots black, fibrous. Rhizoma black, thread-shaped, branched
and spreading. Frond about a foot high or more, three branched,
the middle one larger than the others, all equally erect or spreading,
and the union of the branches and the lower pinnae with the stem is

44

POLYPODIUM.

[class XXXV.

swollen, as taough jointed : it is of a dull somewhat glaucous green,
and more or less covered over, especially on the under side and the
joints of the stem and pinnules, with short glandular pubescence*
Pinnae lanceolate, all those on the lower side being longer and larger
than those on the upper. The •pinnules are oblong, obtuse, entire, or
waved or serrated, especially at the point, the margin frequently
somewhat reflexed ; the lateral veins alternately arising from the
zig-zag mid-rib, and are simple or branched. Sori marginal, naked,
circular clusters, of small pale brown thecse fixed below the point of
the veins. Thecce small, numerous, with a beaded elastic ring,
attached by a slender cellular pedicel. Sporules ovate, smooth.
Rachis slender, green, with a few lanceolate brown membranous
scales scattered about its base, and equally covered over with a
glandular pubescence as the frond.

Habitat. — Amongst stones and rocks in limestone districts; but
not common.

Perennial; in perfection in July.

The specimens from which our descrip¬
tion and drawing are made are from Mat-
lock Bath. The whole plant is stouter,
more succulent, and not the same delicate
green colour as the last species, but of a blue
glaucous hue. The branches are mostly
erect, never so remarkably curved as in the
P. Dryopteris. These characters, together
with the pale glandular pubescence with
which it is covered, readily distinguish it
from all other of our species. We have
collected it frequently among the lower Alps
of Switzerland, and inFrance and Germany,
and find no difference between those speci¬
mens and our own, except that in some of
them as grown in higher and more exposed
situations become of a brownish purple hue.

Our drawing of this species is made one
half the natural size. The theca is highly
magnified, to show its beaded elastic ring
and ovate roughish sporules. The sketch
of the detached pinna, fig. a, is drawn of
the natural size and proportion, and shows
the situation of the sori. Fig. b is a de-

1583 Woodsia ilvensis. 1584 _ Woodsia alpina. j

.

CLASS XXIV.]

WOODSIA.

45

tached pinnule magnified, to show its serratures and the disposition
of the mid-rib and lateral veins. Fig c is a magnified portion of the
stem, to show the manner in which the pinna is attached by its joint¬
like union to the stem, as well as the glandular pubescence and the
attachment of the pinnule.

GENUS V. WOOD'SIA. — Brown. Woodsia.

Gen. Char. Sori circular loose clusters, scattered. Indusium cut
into numerous mostly capillary segments. Fronds flat, the
lateral veins not anastomozing. — Named in compliment to
Joseph Woods, Esq., author of an excellent Monograph of the
British Boses.

1. W. Ilven'sis, Br. (Fig. 1583.) Oblong Woodsia. Frond oblong
lanceolate, pinnate; pinnae on short stalks, deeply cut into oblong
entire or serrated segments beneath, rachis villous and scaly.

English Botany, t. 2616. —English Flora, vol. iv. p. 309. — Hooker,
British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p. 383. — Newman’s British Ferns, p.
137.

Boot long, smooth, wiry black sparingly branched fibres. Rhizoma
thick tufted. Fronds about four inches high, and mostly many
from the same rhizoma. Stem slender, and at about three quarters of
an inch from the base, swollen and jointed, and clothed with brown
lanceolate membranous scales, mixed with jointed hairs, especially
above, pinna opposite in pairs, or alternate, oblong, obtuse, and
attached to the stem by a short footstalk, deeply cut into lobes in a
pinnatifid manner, and the lobes are either simple or serrated, with
obtuse teeth, the upper part is simple, pinnatifid, the upper surface
appears smooth until examined with a magnifying power, when it
will be found that it is scattered over with a few stout hairs, and that
each branch of the lateral veins terminates in a bulb. This is only
seen on the upper surface, and is the same as we have represented in
the detached and magnified pinna of the following species. The
under surface is covered over with jointed shining hairs and long
narrow scales, which seem to fall off when the plant reaches ma¬
turity. Sori circular clusters, imbedded in jointed shining filaments,
which form the indusium near the margin of the lobes, often becom¬
ing confluent, and almost covering the pinnules. Theca small,

46

WOODSIA.

[class XXIV.

globose, encircled with an elastic beaded ring, and attached by a
rather thick pedicel.

Habitat.— Mountains in the clefts of rocks; very rare. Near
Llyn-y-cwn, on Glyder Yawr, Carnarvonshire. — Dr. Howitt. “ Fal-
coln Clints, about ten miles west of Middleton, in Teesdale.” — Mr. 8.
Halestone. At the foot of basaltic rocks, on the Durham side of
the river Tees, about two hundred yards below Cauldron Snout.
— Mr. T. Backhouse. “ Glen Pliee, Forfarshire.” — Mr. Wilson.

Perennial ; in perfection in September.

The drawing which we have given of this very interesting little
fern is made of the full size, from a specimen collected in the above
station by my friend Dr. Howitt. It appears to me identical with the
one represented by Newman at page 137, fig c., which he says was
found by Mr. Wilson in the station given in Forfarshire, except the
pinnae being more alternate. The thecae in our plate are repre¬
sented as seen mixed with the filaments of the indusium ; one is more
highly magnified to show its structure and beaded elastic ring, as
well as the jointed tubular filament. The detached pinnae shows the
position of the sori.

2. IF. alpi'na, Bolton , Newman. (Fig. 1584.) Alpine Woodsia.
Frond linear lanceolate, pinnate; pinnae sessile, triangular, ovate,
obtusely lobed, beneath and rachis slightly hairy.

Newman’s British Ferns, p. 143. — W. hyperborea, Smith. — English
Flora, vol. iv. p. 310. — Hooker, British Flora, ed. 4 vol. i. p. 383. —
IF. llvensis — y. Babington Manual of British Botany, p. 384. —
Polypodium hyperboreum, Sw. — English Botany, t. 2034.

Boot long, smooth, wiry, black branched fibres. Rhizoma thick
tufted. Frond about four inches long, often less, and mostly
several from the same rhizoma. Stem slender, erect or ascending,
when young more or less clothed with slender long scales and soft
jointed pubescence, but as the plant advances to maturity this seems
to fall away, pinna mostly alternate, sometimes opposite and sessile,
or with a very short footstalk, of an obtusely triangular form, with
obtuse serratures, the first serrature sometimes more deeply cut than
the others, and occasionally notched. The upper part of the frond is
simply pinnated and pointed, tlie upper surface is scattered over with
a few stout hairs pointed outwards, and each ajDex of the veins is
dilated into club-shaped forms, as in the last species, and, as is seen
represented in the magnified pinnae of our plate, the veins do not
seem to take any regular form of arrangement, but all arise from the

CLASS XXIV.]

ALLOSORUS.

47

base. Son circular clusters, imbedded in jointed shining filaments,
which form the inius:um near the margin of the lobes, often becoming
confluent, and almost covering the pinnules. Theca small, globose,
enci cled wi li a 1 elastic ring, and attached by a cellular pedicel.

Hcib' tat. — “ On Clogwyn y-Garnedd, o le of the precipices of Snow¬
den which faces the east.” — Mr. Wilson. Ben Lawers, Mael-dun-
Crosk, Craig-Challiach, Perthshire, Scotland. — Mr. Wilson, Mr. G.
Don, &c.

Perennial; in perfection in July.

Our illustration of this beautiful little species is of the natural size
of the plant, drawn from specimens collected in Ben Lawers. The
detached pinnae is magnified, to show the mode of its distribution of
the veins, and the termination in a club-shaped manner. The thecae
and filament of the indusium are magnified with a high power, to
show their structure, as well as the granulated ovate sporules.

Much doubt has been expressed by Botanists as to these two being
distinct species, a difficulty which in plants liable to such variation of
form must always be great, for it is only on the form of the pinna
that the claim of distinction can rest. Mr. Newman, p. 148, says,
“ Mr. J. Backhouse, jun., after informing me that he collected some
specimens of Woodsia at Falcon Clints, proceeds to say, — ‘ I brought
home some specimens with roots, and when I planted them, they
agreed in every particular with W. Ilvensis : the first fronds they
produced after I had planted them were quite different, and had
assumed exactly the form of the Scottish W. hyperborea, and they
are now (26th of lltli mo. 1842) changing back again to Ilvensis, so
that I have no doubt the forms are only two varieties of the same
species.’ ”

GENUS VI. ALLOSO'RUS. — Bernhardi. Roclc-brakes.
Gen. Char. Sori circular clusters, becoming confluent, and con¬
cealed by the revolute margin of the frond, the lateral veins not
anastamosing. — Name from aAXoj, various ; and sorus, in allu¬
sion to the various appearance of the sori at different periods of
their growth.

1. A. crispus, Remit. (Fig. 1585.) Curled Rock-brake. Fronds bi-
pinnate, smooth, the barren one with oblong wedge-shaped segments,
cut, the fertile ones with linear oblong revolute segments, entire.

48

ALLOSORUS.

[class XXIV.

Newman’s British Ferns, p. 103. — Pteris crispa, Linn. — English
Botany, t. 1160. — English Flora, vol. iv. p. 306. — Cryptogramma
crispa, Br. — Hooker, British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p. 389.

Roots numerous, long, tough, and fibrous. Rlrizoma procumbent,
creeping horizontally, dark brown, scaly. Frond erect or ascending,
quite smooth, of a bright cheerful green, from six to twelve inches
high, bi-pinnate, somewhat triangular in its form. Rachis long,
slender, green, brittle, quite smooth, except a few brown lanceolate
membranous scales at the base, the barren frond bi-pinnate, its
pinnules bi- or tripinnatifid, the segments very variable in figure,
wedge-shaped, and cut in the usual form, but often they are narrow,
linear, and bifid, or linear crenated, or ovate oblong and crenated,
like a miniature oak leaf; the fertile fronds are usually rather larger
than the barren ones, and the pinnules divided into ovate oblong
entire segments, the margins are pale, thin, membranous, crenated,
and incurved over the sori, tapering at the base into a short footstalk,
the lateral veins arise from the zig-zag middle one, and terminate
before reaching the margin, those of the barren fronds are mostly
simple, but those of the fertile fronds are bifid, and terminate in a
mass of thecee, which become confluent, and formed into continuous
lines beneath the incurved margin. Theece small, globose, with a
beautiful reddish beaded elastic ring encircling it. Sporules ovate,
smooth.

Habitat. — Among loose stones in mountainous districts in the
North of England, Wales, and Scotland ; very rare in Ireland.

Perennial ; in perfection in July and August.

This very beautiful and delicate plant cannot be mistaken for any
other of our native species. The barren fronds vary considerably in
their size, and the width and shape of their pinnules.

The drawings which we have given of this plant are half the
natural size, and of the normal form both of the barren and
fertile fronds. Fig. a is a detached pinnule, showing its upper sur¬
face and the disposition of its veins; b is the under side exhibiting
the incurved membranous margin, almost covering the confluent
thecee; c is the same, one half being turned back, showing the bifid
lateral veins and their manner of terminating in the cluster of thecte,
while the opposite side remains in its usual position ; e is a small
portion of the membranous margin of the pinnule, very highly mag¬
nified, and showing the beautiful muricated arrangements of its cells ;
d is a barren pinnule, showing its divisions and the disposition of its
undivided. laical veins.

CLASS XXIV.]

ADIANTUM.

49

GENUS VII. ADIAN'TUM.— Linn. Maiden-hair.

Gen. Char. Sori oblong or roundish, covered by a portion of the
frond, reflexed, and a prolonged portion of its membranous
margin forming an indusium, opening interiorly. — Name otduzvr os,
that which is of a dry nature.

1. A. Capillus Veneris, Linn. (Fig. 1580.) True Maiden hair.
Fronds bi-pinnate ; pinnules alternate, thin, oblong, wedge-shaped,
inciso lobate, the ends pale, membranous, reflexed over the linear
sori.

English Botany, t. 1564. — English Flora, vol. iv. p. 807. — Hooker,
British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p. 389. — Newman’s British Ferns, p. 83.

Roots long, black, wiry, and fibrous. Rhizoma short, thick, black,
and scaly. Fronds from six to twelve inches high, erect, or mostly
drooping, irregularly oblong lanceolate, bi-pinnate, with alternate
black shining thread-like branches, bearing alternate pinnules, with
slender short footstalks, ovate, wedge shaped or fan-shaped, more
or less deeply cut and lobed, but variable in size and form, sometimes
almost orbicular, with the margin entire or serrated, of a thin delicate
texture, and a bright cheerful green, some of the lobes of the pinnules
are often barren, while the others are fertile, mostly all are fertile, and
but rarely that all are barren, the barren ones are finely serrated on
the margin, the fertile ones are reflexed, and the thin membranous
margin prolonged into an indusium, which covers over the confluent
linear sori, these are at first in circular masses at the apex of the
veins, but they soon become connected, and form a continuous line,
the veins are numerous, slender, branched, arising from the footstalk,
but without there being any one more prominently large than the
others, repeatedly divided, and terminating in the teeth on the margin
or sori under the indusium. Thecce very small, globose, encircled
with a beautiful beaded reddish elastic ring. Sporules minute,
smooth, ovate. Rachis deep purplish brown or black, quite smooth
and shining, brittle, often having more than the lower half naked.

Habitat. — Moist rocks, caves, and walls near the sea ; rare. Car-
dew, St. Ive’s, and Carrick Gladden, Cornwall ; Ilfracombe, Water-
mouth, and near Binham, Devonshire ; rocks at Dunraven, Port
King, and Barry Island, Glamorganshire ; Glen Meay, Isle of Man ;
South Isles of Arran; Cahir Couree Mountain, near Tralee, and the
Banks of Lough Bulard, near Urrisbeg, Ireland.

Perennial ; in perfection in July.

G

50

ADIANTUM.

[class XXIV.

The drawing of our specimen is made one half the natural size.
The fig. a is a detached pinnule, and is drawn the full size, showing
the mode of the distribution of the veins and form of the indusium
over the sori. Fig. b is the indusium turned hack, to show the posi¬
tion of the sori in a young state, and the termination of the veins :
this is greatly magnified. Fig. c is one of the thecae removed, and
greatly magnified, to show its structure and its minute globose or
ovate smooth sporules.

This is one of our most beautiful and elegant Ferns, is most constant
in its form, and most delicately constructed, forming when it grows
abundantly a gay living mantle, gracefully drooping over time’s
destructive march upon old walls or crumbling rocks. It is ex¬
ceedingly common in the South of Europe, triumphing over and
throwing its slender form in glowing tapestry equally over the moul¬
dering remnants of the splendid Pagan temple, and the vast remains
of Roman luxury, or the ruined tomb ; but nowhere is it seen in
greater beauty, or more majestically drooping, than in that enchanted
Grotto, where the ancient Romans, according to the story of Ovid,
represented that Egeria was so disconsolate at the death of Numa,
that she melted into tears, and was changed into a fountain by Diana,
and here

'• The mosses of the fountain still are sprinkled
With thine Elysian water-drops ; the face
Of the cave-guarded spring, with years unwrinkled,

Reflects the meek-eyed genius of the place.

Whose green, wild margin now no more erase

Art’s works ; nor must the delicate water’s sleep

Prison’d in marble, bubbling from the base

Of the cleft statue, with a gentle leap

The rill runs o'er, and round fern, flowers, and ivy creep

Fantastically tangled.”

The fronds of the Maiden-hair are used in the South of Europe for
making a kind of syrup, which is sold in the shops under the
name of Syrup of Capillaire, and is thought useful as a diuretic ; and
for the relief of coughs, it is also used in the form of tea, and makes a
pleasant drink in cases of fever, &c. ; according to Mr. Ball, the
inhabitants of the South Isle of Arran use the fronds in the place
of tea.

CLASS XXIV.]

LOMARIA.

51

GENUS VIII. LOMA'RIA. — Willd. Lomaria, or Hard-fern.

Gen. Char. Sori in a continuous line on each side of the mid-rib,
covered by a continuous indusium, the lateral veins not extending
beyond the indusium. — Name from an edge ; in allusion

to the incurved margin forming the indusium.

1. L. spi'cant, Desveux. (Fig, 1587.) Hard-fern. Fronds linear
lanceolate, pectenato-pinnatifid, the segments of the barren fronds
linear oblong, acute, of the fertile, narrow, linear, acute.

Newman’s British Ferns, p. 89. — Blechnum boreale, Linn. — English
Botany, t. 1159. — English Flora, vol. iv. p. 303. — Hooker, British
Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p. 389.

Root stout branched wiry fibres. Rhizoma short, thick, tufted,
scaly. Fronds numerous, erect, linear lanceolate, tapering, dark
green, smooth and shining above, paler and dull beneath, pectenato-
pinnatifid. The racbis simple, naked, and of a dark purplish colour
below, and somewhat scaly, the scales thin, brown, membranous,
barren fronds with oblong acute alternate segments, often opposite in

the lower part, somewhat curved up¬
wards, slightly reflexed on the mar¬
gin, the mid-rib prominent, the lateral
veins slender, bifurcated, and termi¬
nating before reaching the margin,
fertile fronds with narrower, more
linear segments, the lateral veins (fig.
b) in the annexed sketch are disposed
in the same way as the barren ones
(fig. a), but with an additional vein
communicating from one to the other
at the joints, and running the whole
length of the pinnae, and from these
arise the ihecce in a continuous line,
as seen in (fig. d). The thecae, as
they are developed upon the inner
side of the vein, push up the cuticle
of the pinnae into a ridge, which
bursts on the inner margin, and

f

orms the indusium, which splits at

\\\ intervals ; where the lateral veins

have arisen by this process, the pinnae are contracted into their

52

PTERIS.

[class XXIV.

narrow form (fig. <?), which before the formation of the thecae was as
broad as the barren ones, which will be seen by the illustrations

a , b, c, and d. As the thecae
advance to maturity, they
are pushed from under the
indusium, and form a crowded
dark brown or blackish mass.
Theca small, globose, encir¬
cled by a beaded elastic ring,
of a crimson colour. Sjporules
ovate, smooth.

Habitat. - Woods and

heathy places ; common.

Perennial ; in perfection in
August and September.

The drawing of this plant
is made about one-third the
natural size. The thecae and
sporules are highly magnified.
This fern is, perhaps, the
least liable of any of our
species to vary in its form.
The bifid barren frond, which
the accompanying sketch, made
the natural size of the plant
illustrates, is the only remark¬
able one we have seen, and
for it we are indebted to Mr.
G. Ridge. It is a very gene¬
rally distributed plant, and ex¬
tremely hardy.

GENUS IX. PTE'RIS.-^Linn. Common Brahes.

Gen. Char. Sori continuous, linear, marginal, covered by a con¬
tinuous marginal indusium. — Name in Greek a fern, from

'

_

class xxiv.] PTERIS.

ttt £§uf , a plume or feather ; in allusion to the elegant plumed
appearance of some of the species.

1. P. aquili'na , Linn. (Fig. 1588.) Common Brahes. Fronds

i

triangular, tri-partite ; branches bi-pinnate ; pinnules cleft to the
mid rib ; the lobes oblong, obtuse, entire ; the margin reflexed.

English Botany, t. 1679. — English Flora, vol. iv. p. 305. — Hooker,
British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p. 389. — Newman’s British Ferns, p. 99.

Roots fibrous, brown, and tomentose. Rhizoma dark brown or
black, more or less clothed with soft velvety pubescence, and exten¬
sively creeping both in an horizontal and perpendicular direction,
often forming matted masses beneath the soil. Fronds erect, from
one to ten feet high ; when grown in an open situation it is in form a
nearly equilateral triangle, but when grown in a moist and shady
place it becomes more elongated. The young fronds are extremely
brittle, and push themselves out of the soil, doubled down with the
leafy portion pressed next the stem, as seen in our plate, and gra¬
dually rise and expand themselves as there shown. The stem, from
its attachment to the rhizoma to its first division of the frond, is
about half its whole length ; it is dark brown, and pilous-like. The
rhizoma at the base, and a little above its insertion, is swollen : if
transverse sections of the stem are made, it will be seen that the dark
cellular and fibrous masses represent figures which resemble an
“ Oak Tree,” or, as some say, a “ Spread Eagle hence it has its
specific name of Aquilina. We have carefully represented sections
made in different parts of the stem. Fig. a is the upper, h the
^ ^ radical, c and d different parts

of the swollen portion. The
rest of the stem is a smooth
yellowish green, obtusely an¬
gular, sometimes scattered over with brownish scales. The frond
is repeatedly three branched, a smooth dark green above, paler be¬
neath, and hairy, especially along the mid-ribs. The pinna are
lanceolate pinnate, the pinnules pinnatifid. Fig. e , given in page
55, is here drawn the natural size, the lobes are oblong, obtuse, entire,
waved or lobed, as in fig. f, page 54, or the whole of the lobes
curled and waved, as in fig. g, page 54, giving it crisped appear¬
ance ; each lobe has a prominent waved mid-rib, with alternate
lateral veins, each of which is twice branched in a dichotomose
manner, and terminates in the margin, from whence arise the thecee
(fig. h, page 55), which are drawn larger than natural, to show the
veins and the margin, folded over in the form of a thin transpa’

PTERIS.

[CLASS XXIV'.

54

rent membrane, and covering the thecae in the form of an indusium
When this membrane is highly magnified, it is seen (as represented
in fig. i, page 55 J beautifully traced over with tortuous semi trans.
parent veins, and the margin furnished with jointed hairs, which are
in reality formed of elongated cells, placed in contact one upon the end
of another, as seen in fig. j, page 55. The membrane on the upper
surface of the frond, if removed and placed under a magnifying
power, will be seen to resemble fig. i, page 55 ; but if a portion of the

membrane on the under sur¬
face be treated in the same
way, it will be found to re¬
semble fig. Jc, while thickly in¬
terspersed amongst its cells are

stomata, ox
^/O) transpira -
tion pores,
as will be
seen, form¬
ed of two
kidney-shaped cells, which by
their contraction and expan¬
sion, according to the different
states of the atmosphere, re¬
gulate the temperature, and
the egress or ingress of air
through these pores. This
beautiful arrangement of the
parts of the plant here de¬
scribed, is not peculiar to this
species, but is similar in all
the other, and is here given
to point out to the student the
fund of amusement and in¬
terest which is in store for
those who will examine for
themselves any of the won¬
derful works of creation. Fig. I, page 55, is a pinna, drawn the
natural size, and exhibits the under side, as it is seen, crowded
with thecae , in linear sori along the margin, and under the marginal
membrane, more distinctly seen in fig. h, but there represented
without thecae. If these thecae are removed, there will be found

CLASS XXIV.]

PTERIS.

55

another thin membranous prolongation on the under side, so that the
thecte are between two membranous elongations, as seen in fig. m,

which is a transverse sec¬
tion of one of the lobes ;
the upper line is the pro¬
longation of the margin
turned over, and covering
the thecae, which are seen
to arise from the margin
of the frond, where the la¬
teral veins terminate, and
beneath them is another
prolongation of membrane,
very thin and transparent;
which of these is the proper
indusium is a question not
yet determined : we have
continued to call the upper
one the indusium, until
further researches in these
organs enable us to more
clearly define which is the
proper one. The theca
are numerous, globose, and
encircled with a beaded
elastic ring. The sporules
are numerous, angular,
ovate, and roughish.

Habitat. — Heaths, woods,
&c. ; very common.
Perennial ; in perfection
in August.

This is the commonest
and most abundant of all
our Ferns, and is known by
the name of Brakes, or
Bracken. It will grow in
all kinds of soil and situa¬
tion, however open or ex¬
posed, or in the close wood or forest, but it is one of the plants most

56

PTERIS.

[class XXIV.

easy of extirpation, and one of the most useful. From the wide dis¬
tribution of its places of growth, it is, as might be supposed, extremely
variable in the size it attains, for in cold bleak situations with a clayey
soil it is not more than a foot high, while in a vegetable mould in
woods and shady places it grows to the height of ten or twelve feet, or
even more ; in the former instance it is an almost equilateral triangle
in outline, in the latter it is very much more elongated. The
rhizomas are numerous, strong, and extend a considerable distance
perpendicularly, horizontally, or otherwise, and are extremely useful
when dead, as forming a kind of tube by their outer fibrous coating,
which remains some time after the inner cellular substance has
perished, and thus providing for the conveyance of rain as it falls
into the ground, instead of its running off the surface : this use
of the plant is very great in hard clayey soils, &c. The green
fronds, when cut, are used as litter for horses, cows, &c., and from the
great quantity of alkaline salt in their composition, form the best
kind of manure, and even when cut and left to rot. Bracken, according
to Lightfoot, is a great improver of the land. Such is the quantity
of alkali which it contains, that the same author tells us that in many
of the Western Isles of Scotland, the people gain a considerable profit
by the sale of the ashes to soap and glass-makers; and in Wales, as
is related by Mr. Blagdon, in Magazine of Natural History, “the
plant, when it has been well dried, is burned by the cottagers in large
heaps, for the sake of the alkali contained in the ashes ; when suffi¬
ciently burned, enough water is sprinkled on the ashes to make them
adhere together, when they are rolled into round balls about two
inches or two and a half in diameter. These balls are thoroughly
dried and carried about the neighbourhood where they are made, for
sale in the markets; and they are also frequently kept by shop¬
keepers, to supply their customers. The price of these balls varies in
different seasons, from 3d. to 8d. per dozen. They are very much
prized by some housewives for their utility in the wash-house in
economising the use of soap. When about to be used they are put
into the fire, and when heated to red heat, are taken out and thrown
into a tub of water ; the water, in the course of an hour or so, be¬
comes a strong ley, and is then fit for use.’’ It is used, especially in
Scotland, as a thatch for cottages ; and the young tender fronds,
before they are expanded, prized as food for pigs They are
gathered into bundles, and boiled in water, the thick mucila¬
ginous fluid thus produced being mixed with their other food, is
thought to be very nutricious; but in Normandy, we are told by

CLASS XXIV.]

ASPLENIUM,

57

Lightfoot, it has been used by the poorer inhabitants as an article of
food, by mixing the larger rbizomas with their bread in times of great
scarcity ; and it is said that in Siberia, and some other northern
countries, the inhabitants brew the rhizoma in their ale, using one-
third to two-thirds of malt.

As a medicinal plant it was formerly much prized ; both the fronds
and succulent rhizomas were used in decoctions and diet drinks, in
chronic disorders of whatever kind they might he, but especially
those arising from “ obstructions of the viscera and spleen.” It was
hardly less esteemed as a remedy for the cure of worms ; and it is
still retained in the Materia Medica for the same use, especially for
the removal of the tapeworm. The dose of the powdered rhizoma is
from one to three drachms ; and this repeated for several mornings,
and afterwards followed up with a brisk purgative, is said to have
been useful when all other means have failed. M. Pescher, of
Geneva, submitted the rhizomas to the action of Sulphuric iEther,
and obtained oily resinous substance, being the active principle,
which he has found in the dose of from eight to thirty drops, ad'
ministered made up into pills, or mixed with syrup, one half at bed
time, and the remainder the following morning, to be most successful
in removing (tenia) tapeworm, especially if it is taken when the
stomach and bowels are empty, and followed by a brisk purgative.

The dried fronds are stacked and kept in store as bedding for cattle
and horses, and are much used as a mateiial for packing goods instead
of straw, for which purpose they are better for many kinds of goods,
as being more elastic and softer. The stems and rhizomas are used,
from the quantity of tanning and astringent matter which they con¬
tain for tauning kid and chamois leather.

GENUS X. ASPLE'NIUM. — Linn. Splemwort.

Gen. Char. Sori oblong, or linear. Indusium of the same shape,
arising from the lateral veins, and opening on one side longi¬
tudinally towards the mid-rib. — Name from a, not; and o-wAnv,
the spleen; so called in allusion to the plant being used in
affections of the spleen.

1. A. Filix-fe'mina, Hook. (Fig. 1589.) Lady-fern. Frond broadly
lanceolate, acuminate, pinnate; pinnae linear lanceolate; pinnules
oblong lanceolate, inciso-serrated, with acute teeth ; lateral veins

H

58

ASPLENIUM.

[CLASS XXIV.

branched, the anterior branch with the mid-rib bearing the linear
sori ; indusium with a waved fringed margin.

Hooker, British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p. 888. — Aspidium. — English
Botany, t. 1459. — English Flora, vol. iv. p. 28&. — Athyrium, Presl.—
Newman’s British Ferns, p. 237.

Roots long, fibrous, wiry, black. Rhizoma large, thick tufted, often
elevated several inches above the surface of the ground. Fronds in
vernation are curled up in a most beautiful and elegant manner, with
the foliaceous portion next the stem, becoming as they attain to the
full size most graceful, expanding their delicate divided forms, gently
drooping into a broadly lanceolate figure, mostly tapering at the
point, and attaining a length varying from one to six feet, regularly

pinnate, with th q pinna opposite and alternate,
of a linear lanceolate shape, pinnated, the
pinnules are oblong, obtuse, or acutely serrated,
or cut in a pinnatifid manner ; the lower naked
portion of the stem varies from one third to a
quarter of the whole length of the frond, is
much swollen near the base, of an unequally
triangular form, and when divided transversely,
is seen as in the accompanying fig. a. The
two bands seen in the midst of cellular sub¬
stance being bundles of ducts, which convey
the sap from the mid-ribs and
veins of the pinnae, to form the
proper juices of the plant. The
lower portion of the stem is
mostly thickly clothed with
thin membranous scales, of a
lanceolate form (fig. b), which
are seen when highly magnified
to consist of cellular substance,
more or less elongated, (fig c ).
The whole of the racliis is scat,
tered over with these scales, but
in the upper part they are smaller, and more attenuated in their
form. The pinnules (fig. d) are distinctly marked with a waved
mid rib , and alternate or opposite lateral veins, which terminate in
the point of the teeth ; each lateral vein is branched, and from the
upper edge of the mid-vein and its branch nearest the mid-rib arise

CLASS XXIV.]

ASPLENIUM.

59

the sori. The involucre (fig. e), which is pale, thin, and membranous,
is of a linear or ovate kidney-shape, fringed with capillary segments,
which, as the thecae are developed, become rounded, or irregular in
form, and sometimes, though rarely, the sori become confluent.
Theca pale brown, globose, with a beaded elastic ring. Sporules
very minute, ovate.

Habitat. — Moist shady places ; frequent.

Perennial ; in perfection in June and July.

This generally distributed fern is subject to considerable variation
in size, and the more or less deeply cutting of its lobes, from which
circumstance it has given rise to a belief of the existence of several
species. Roth divides them into the five following species, which we
retain as varieties, from a fact that our observation has not led us

to regard those characters as sufficiently
distinct or constant to constitute them
species, and, indeed, we have much hesi¬
tation in retaining either trifidum or
ovatum even as varieties sufficiently dis¬
tinct from molle.

1. Molle. Frond small, ovate lanceo¬
late, pinnate; pinnae pinnate (fig.
/), their mid-rib winged, the lower
pair distant from the rest, short,
deltoid, deflexed ; pinnules flat,
ovate, decurrent, toothed, with short
acuminate teeth ; the clusters of
capsules are very distant, there are
five to seven pairs on a pinna. —
Aihyrium molle , Roth. — A. Filix-
femina , var. molle. — Newman’s Bri¬
tish Ferns, p. 242.

2. Trifidum. Frond as large again as the above, the pinnae pin¬
nate (fig. g , page 60,) the pinnules flat, semi-decurrent, not being
quite united by a ring of the mid-rib, more deeply cut,
and the end of the lobes three toothed, the teeth acuminate,
and somewhat inflexed. The first anterior lobe of each pin¬
nule is larger than the rest. The clusters of thecae are smaller
and more remote than those of var. molle. — Athyrium trifidum ,
Roth. — A. Filix femina, var. trifidum. — Newman’s British
Ferns, p. 242.

60

ASPLENIUM.

[class XXIV.

Ovatum. This is an intermediate variety between the two
former; its size and form resemble that of molle, hut the
cutting of the lobes that of trifidum. It is, however, of a
darker colour, and more robust in its structure, the stem and
ribs more scaly ; the upper pinnules are winged, but the lower
are not so, and their lobes are broadly oblong, obtuse, the

margins have
one or two
teeth on each
side, and are
terminated by
three or tw o
others ; the
teeth are ovate,

acute, or very obtuse
— Athyrium ovatum,

Roth. — A. Filixfe-
mina, var. dentatum.

— Newman’s British
Ferns, p. 243.

. Incisum. This is the
largest of the varieties
growing from four to
six feet long, and
from twelve to eighteen
inches wide, of a dark
dull green colour ; the
pinnae are pinnate (fig.
h, page61,)from six to
nine inches long, and
the pinnules are

sometimes almost quite pinnate, flat, the teeth lanceolate ; sori
numerous often scattered irregularly, especially on the basal
lobes. — Athyrium Filixfemina , Roth. — A. Filix-femina, var.
incisum. — Newman’s British Ferns, p. 243.

5. RluBticum. Frond with a short stalk, and but few slender brown
scales, a pale yellowish green colour, of a linear lanceolate
form; the pinnae pinnate (fig. i, page 61) ; the pinnules narrow,
linear, from the circumstance of the teeth being curved inwards
over the sori, instead of being flat, as are those of the other
varieties; the sori are numerous, crowded, becoming confluent.
— Athyrium rh(sticum,~Roth . — A Felix femina, var .convexu.m. —

CLASS XXIV.]

ASPLENIUM.

61

-

Jgfc

^pi

wmy^

,VM-r

Newman’s British Ferns,
p. 245. — Aspidium irri-
guum. — English Botany,
t. 2199. (a starved va¬
riety.)

The varieties, molle, trijid-
um, and ovatum, are found in

damp situations. By the side
of streams is their favourite
locality, where they are partly
shaded, incisum luxuriates in
a dryer lighter soil, and rliccti-
cum in stony places. Though
these are the most distinc¬
tively marked varieties, so
cleverly pointed out by Roth,
still we are constantly finding
variations from these, so that it
seems impossible to say with
certainty under which of
them they ought to be placed,
and uniting them one to the
other, as it were, link by link

62

ASPLENIUM.

[class XXJV.

in a chain, so slightly differing one from the other, or one partaking
of the characters of the one and the other another ; and it is only in
extreme variations in their forms that the student seems to be able to

A. fontanum, Br. Smooth Bock Spleenwort. Frond linear lanceolate, or
oblong lanceolate, bi- pinnate; pinnae shorter and more distant towards the
base, shorter and more crowded towards the point, oblong, pinnate ; pin¬
nules oblong, or roundish ovate, toothed, with angular sharp spinous teeth ;
lateral veins simple or branched, terminating in the points; indusium half
ovate, entire.

A. Halleri, Brown. — Aspidinm. — English Botany, t. 2024. — English Flora,
vol. iv. p. 209. — Hooker, British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p. 388. — Athyrium,
Both. — Balbington’s Manual, p. 388.

Boots long, slender, branched, fibres wiry. Blii-
zoma large, thick, for the size of the plant. Fronds
(see accompanying fig.) very elegant, curled up in
vernation, but expanding into a lanceolate or ob¬
long lanceolate form. The stalk is naked at the
base, about one-fourth or fifth of the whole length,
and is quite smooth, with the exception of a few
scattered scales at its base ; it is doubly pinnate.
The pinnae are opposite and alternate, of an oblong
or oblong lanceolate form ; those near the base are
shorter and more distant, but become longer and
nearer together upwards, but towards the point they

become shorter, and

terminate frequent¬
ly in a long taper¬
ing point. The
pinnae are pinnate,
and sometimes the
pinnules are again
so deeply divided
as to be pinnated,
but usually they

.

■

....

CLASS XXIV.]

ASPLENIUM.

63

repose with confidence as to his plant being different from the one or
other.

This, the most elegant and delicately graceful fern, takes the first
rank in beauty amongst our native species, whether as an adornment
to our wmods, or nestling on the banks of hedges, or gracefully droop¬
ing on the torrent’s side or by ripling mountain streams. Its tufts of
fronds, whether when young, and putiing forth its delicate and tender
frond in its closely curled up form, or when more expanded into its
pastoral hook-like shape, or fully spread forth in its matured state,
must be appreciated for its loveliness. It forms an admirable cover
for rabbits, hares, and birds of various kinds, and is used for the pur¬
pose of packing fish for transportation from the sea coast to inland
markets.

To illustrate with drawings on a small scale this species, and to
give an idea of its elegance and beauty, seems almost impossible.
The frond represented in our plate (fig. 1589) is one-tenth the natural
size. The thecae are highly magnified, to show their structure, as are

are as representated in the pinna (fig. a), toothed, with angular sharp
pointed teeth, each tooth having a branch of the lateral vein terminating in

its apex, which in a young state is often strongly
curved, almost hooked. The mid-rib is waved; the
superior pinnule of each pinnae next the rachis is often
larger than the others, though this is not constant, and,
indeed, fronds from the same rhizoma are different;
some having this enlarged lobe, others not ; and we
observe that it is largest in the strongest and most
robust fronds. Indusium half ovate, entire on the free
edge, and always attached to the margin of the vein
nearest to the mid-vein : if they arise from the lateral
vein they burst towards the mid-rib, if from the branches
towards the lateral vein, as seen (fig. b ). The sort at first
are small, but soon become large, and confluent, thickly
covering the entire pinna with the bright brown thecae,
and destroying the indusium. The thecce are small,
globose, with an elastic beaded ring. The sporules nu¬
merous, angular, and rough.

Habitat. — Formerly on Amersham Church, Bucks, and
said to have been found by Hudson in Cumberland and
Westmoreland.

Perennial ; in fruit in September.

British specimens of this beautiful fern we have not seen, but have found
it not unfrequent on limestone rocks in Switzerland, and from these our
drawing has been made. It generally grows among loose rocks in large

64

ASPLENIUM.

[CLASS XXIV

also the unequally ovate sporules. The pinnae,/, g, h, and i, are
drawn the natural size ; hut the pinnules, cl and e, are magnified, to
show the distribution of the veins, the situation of the sori, and the
form and structure of the involucre, with its fringed margin.

Some very curious formed specimens of this species are occasionally
found, which are interesting, however, only for their monstrosity or
deformity, and remarkable as retaining their distorted form under
cultivation.

2. A, Adian' tum-nigrum, Linn. (Fig. 1590.) Blade stalked Spleen-
wort. Fronds triangular, attenuated, tri-pinnated below ; pinnae
alternate, arising obliquely from the rachis, triangular, attenuated ;
pinnules ovate lanceolate, inciso-pinnatifid, and toothed ; rachis above
winged ; lateral veins branched, and terminating in a club-shaped
point before reaching the margin ; sori central ; indusium linear, with
a straight entire margin.

English Botany, t. 1950. — English Flora, vol. iv. p. 297. — Hooker,
British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p. 388. — Newman’s British Ferns.

Roots fibrous, long, tough, black, wiry. Rliizoma tufted, black,
and scaly. Fronds curled up in vernation, and as they expand are
for a time erect, hut soon become drooping, and generally when ma¬
tured pendulous. The stem is a dark purplish or black colour, very
smooth and shining, deeply channeled on the upper side, rounded at
the back, thickened or compressed at the base, and the lower part
more or less clothed with narrow brown scales. The form of the
frond is triangular, the two lower pinnae being longer than the others,
which gradually diminish upwards into the long attenuated point; it
is of a dark shining green above, paler beneath, pinnate, the pinnae
(fig. a and b, page 65) arising obliquely from the stem alternately, are
triangular, with an attenuated point, and pinnate ; the pinnules
also arise obliquely and alternately, and are themselves pinnated.

tufts, where it is somewhat protected, and varies in length from three to
twelve inches, but in all its forms, as far as we have seen, its characters are
too well defined to be likely to mislead the student. Our illustration is
made the natural size of an ordinary grown plant, but the pinnules are
magnified to show the distribution of the) veins and sori. We retain this in
a note to our Flora, being doubtful whether it ought to be considered
a native species or not. The habit of the plant and its general aspect is
that ofWoodsia, from which, however, there is no difficulty in distinguishing
it.

'

CLASS XXIV.]

ASPLENI UM.

65

The lobes (fig. c ) themselves are also often, and especially the
lower ones deeply cut in a pinnatifid manner, but usually only cut

and strongly and acutely serrated. The mid-rib of the pinnules is
prominent, waved, as well as of the lobes ; the lateral veins arise
alternately, and terminate each below the point of the teeth in a
club-shape, (fig. d highly
magnified), or obtusely,
nearly every one of
which bear on the
margin towards the
mid-rib, and near its
junction a linear sorus

(fig. c ), the indusium of v
which is narrow, linear
(fig.tZ highly magnified))
pale and entire on the
margin. As the thecae
expand, the sori be¬
come confluent, push¬
ing away and destroying

the indusium, and entirely covering the pinnules with their brown
masses. The theca arise from the lateral veins, and are attached by a

i

6G

ASPLENIUM.

[class XXIV.

cellular pedicel, which becomes elongated ; they are globose, shining
brown, and burst open by the expansion of the beaded elastic ring,
by which each is nearly encircled. The sporules are numerous, ovate,
angular, and roughish.

Habitat. — Banks, fissures of rocks and walls ; common.

Perennial ; in perfection in August and September.

Our plate (Fig. 3 590) illustrative of this species is drawn of the
natural size, and is the common form and size usually found growing
on dfiy banks and walls, or the shady part of rocks, and the variety
officmarum of Newman; but a plant so generally distributed as this
is, and capable of growing under almost every variety of exposure or
soil, is, as might he supposed, very variable in its size and form, and
to describe each variation would be as tedious as we presume it would
he unprofitable. We have given in our marginal fig. a the first pinna
of a frond, drawn the natural size, which we give as an example of
one of the most undivided form of fronds, when it is the Asplenium
obtusum, Willdenow ; the variety obtusum Newman. Fig. b is also
the first pinna of a frond, having the pinnules and lobes very narrow,
more deeply cut, and the teeth more slender ; this is the Asplenium
acutum, Borg, and the variety acutum, Newman. These we may take
as the two extremes, and the frond, fig. 1590, is the intermediate
state and type of the species ; there are still many intermediate varia¬
tions both as to size and form, hut we are not able to find in any of
them characters sufficiently constant by which to establish a specific
difference. W e have specimens now before us of fronds fully in fruit,
which measure from the end of the stem to the apex of the frond
three inches and a half long and one inch wide, and others twenty-four
inches long and four inches and half wide ; the former is a small
specimen of the variety obtusum, the latter a large specimen of the
variety acutum ; but notwithstanding this great disparity, there are
intermediate states to connect them, and also the want of specific cha¬
racter, besides that of form and magnitude to distinguish them.

Not any of our species of fern are more generally distributed than
this. It does not seem to be exclusively attached to any particular
soil, hut grows equally well on the one as the other . it is found
flourishing in the crevices of rocks, old walls, and ruined buildings,
and under hedge rows, and it is in many situations extremely pretty
and ornamental, especially upon old decayed ruins and the banks of
rural dells.

Cl ASS XXIV.]

ASPLENIU M

67

Whatever medical properties it possesses they have of late years
been entirely neglected ; but Ray says it was believed to be useful in
coughs, asthma, and other affections of the chest, and valuable for the
relief of pain in the kidneys and bladder, arising from calculous ob¬
structions ; it was recommended by Hoffman in scorbutic affections.

3. A. lanceo'latum. Hudson. (Fig. 1591.) Green lanceolate Spleen-
wort. Fronds lanceolate, bi-pinnate or pinnate; pinnae opposite, and
arising at right angles from the rachis, lanceolate, or ovate, pinnate,
or cut, and the lobes serrated; rachis not winged; lateral veins
branched, and terminating in a linear club-shape before reaching the
margin, which is distinctly impressed on the upper surface; sori near
the margin; indusium linear, ovate, with a waved or notched margin.

English Botany, t. 240. — English Flora, vol. iv. p. 298. — Hooker,
British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p. 388. — Newman’s British Ferns, p. 249.

Roots slender, very long, branched, black, tough. Rhizoma
tufted, dark brown, densely clothed with slender scales. Fronds
curled up in vernation, when expanded erect, becoming drooping,
and often pendulous, measuring from four to eighteen inches long,
the naked part of the stem being nearly one half its length, though
often only a third. The stem is mostly a dark reddish brown, some*
times green, deeply channeled above, and clothed with narrow scales,
especially at the base. Th e pinna always arise at nearly right angles
from the rachis, and are almost always opposite; the first pair are
generally shorter than the second. They are of a lanceolate figure,
with opposite pinnules, the first pair of which are usually larger than
the others, and the upper one the largest of the two ; they are of an
ovate lanceolate figure, deeply cut in a pinnatifid manner and ser¬
rated, or simply serrated ; each one is on a short footstalk, but towards
the point they are decurrent. The upper surface is a bright cheerful
green, the lower pale and dull ; the mid-rib is prominent, slightly
waved, the lateral veins and their branches terminate in an elongated
club-shaped manner below the point of each tooth, which is distinctly
impressed on the external surface, as seen on the pinnule (fig. a ,
page 61), and on the under surface from the inner margin of these
bulbs the sori arise consequently near the points of each tooth (figs.
b and c, page 61.) They are at first linear, ovate, sometimes becom¬
ing circular, and as they advance to maturity confluent, entirely cover¬
ing the frond with dense thick masses. The indusium (fig. c , page 61) is
of a linear half ovate figure, entire or waved, or notched on the margin,
and of a pale thin delicate texture. The thee « are globose, encircled

68

ASPLENIUM.

[class xx rv.’

with a beaded elastic band, and attached to the frond by an elongated
pedicel. The sporules are ovate, angular, and roughisli.

Habitat. — Fis.
sures of rocks and
walls in the vici¬
nity of the sea ;
rare. It is fouud
on the coast of
Cornwall, Devon¬
shire, Kent, Sussex,

Gloucestershire,

Caernarvonshire, Merionethshire, and Pembrokeshire, but nowhere
very abundant.

Perennial ; in perfection in August.

The illustration which we have given of this very beauti ul species
of fern is drawn of the natural size of an ordinary grown plant.
They are occasionally found much larger, as well as much smaller,
and, perhaps, in some of these extremes it may be difficult to define
the species to which they belong ; but as in the illustration so also in
the description, we have endeavoured to avoid any of these extremes,
and in all of the forms which have come under our notice, the dis.
tinctive characters of the species are very obvious. The pinnae are
a’ways_at a right angle with the stem, as compared with A. adiantum.
nigrum. The sori are always marginal, and the lateral veins are
always impressed in their club-shaped extremity on the external
surface, which is not the case with A. adiantum-nigrum. We do not
insist upon of the club shaped terminus of the veins seen on the
surface of the frond as a specific chracter, but only as one of the
distinguishing characteristics, marking the difference between the two
nearly allied species. We shall find this character in others of our
species, as will be seen in A. viride, &c.

Mr. Newman has well pointed out three varieties of form in fronds,
which he has observed : the first, he says, “ is of erect growth, nearly
linear, and simply pinnate, the pinnae being stalked and lobed ; in
this state seed is abundantly produced, and the masses, when full
grown, are perfectly circular.” “ A second variety,” he says, “ is of
pendant growth, and larger size; is lanceolate in form ; the pinnae are
pinnate, the pinnules stalked, serrated, and somewhat quadrate. The
fronds often measure a foot in length, and sometimes fifteen and even
eighteen inches ; they usually issue from dark holes or crevices, or

1597

Asplcnium germanicum.

CLASS XXIV.]

ASPLENIUM.

69

depend from the roofs of sea caves.” The third variety which he
mentions “ is of nearly erect growth, hut bends over at the extremity,
and the entire frond, together with each individual pinnule, possesses
such a rigid and inflexible convexity, that it is next to impossible to
flatten it by pressure.”

4. A. mari'num, Linn. (Fig 1592 ) Sea Spleenwort. Frond linear,
simple, pinnate ; pinnae oblong, obtuse, alternate, stalked, lobed and
crenated, or simply crenated ; racliis with a narrow wing on each
side connecting the pinnae ; lateral veins simple or forked, and ter¬
minating before reaching the margin ; sori about the middle of the
lateral veins; indusium linear, with an entire margin.

English Botany, t. 392. — English Flora, vol. iv. p. 294. — Hooker,
British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p 388. — Newman’s British Ferns, p. 275.

Roots long, slender, tough, and wiry, black. Rhizoma tufted,
black, and scaly. Fronds linear, or linear lanceolate, and simply
pinnate, and varying from two to twenty inches long, The stem is a
dark purplish brown colour, almost black at the base, slightly chan¬
neled above, rounded at the back, the lower naked part varies from a
sixth to one half of the whole frond, but usually it is about a
fourth ; it is smooth and naked, except occasionally with a few scales
at the base. Pinna: simple, alternate, rarely opposite, oblong, ovate,
obliquely tapering at the base, and one connected with the other by a
narrow membrane running along the rachis. The margin is simply
or doubly crenated, sometimes lobed, especially the lower ones, which
are often lobed in an auriculated manner, especially on the upper
margin : each pinna has a distinct prominent mid-rib and lateral
veins, which are simple or branched, each terminating in a slightly
thickened point before it reaches the margin, and bears on its inner
margin linear sori, which always open towards the mid-rib, and as
they advance to maturity become conflexed, and often entirely cover
the frond by their thick masses of thecae. The indusium is linear, a
pale thin brown membrane, often nearly the whole length of the
vein, but usually not more than half, and arising about the middle of
the vein. See the drawing of the detached pinnule representing the
under side (fig. c, page 70.) Thecce numerous, globose, encircled with
an elastic beaded ring, and containing numerous ovate angular
roughish sporules.

Habitat. — Clefts of rocks and caves, and occasionally, though very
rarely, on old ruins near the sea, especially in Scotland and Ireland,
and in the Isle of Man.

Perennial ; in perfection in August.

7Q asplenium

Our illustra¬
tion of this plant
is from an ordi¬
nary frond, and
drawn of the na¬
tural size and
proportion ; they
are frequently,
however, more
linear in form
than the one
there represented
and sometimes
with the upper
pinnae even
larger than the
lower, and the
point short and
pyramidal. The
auricuiated lobes
at the base of
the pinnae are
also sometimes
much larger.

In the accom¬
panying repre¬
sentation of a
frond drawn the
natural size (fig.
a), the pinnae
are narrower,
and more deeply C
divided than any U
other that we
have seen ; it is aV
thickly crowded
with the con-
fluent sori at the
back, and is in¬
teresting as com¬
pared with fig. b, which is also a frond drawn the full size and

CLASS XXIV.]

ASPLENIUM.

71

proportion, and fig. c, page 70, is a pinna from a frond, of a long
linear figure, and all its pinnae narrow, lanceolate, notched and
crenated. These will be some guide to the students to the varied
forms of the plant with which he may meet, but they all seem to
depend upon the situation of their growth, being more or less con¬
fined to caves or close crevices of rocks, or as those more fully ex¬
posed to the influence of the saline atmosphere of the sea. This,
indeed, seems to he one of the most necessary conditions to its full
growth and perfection. It has been found, however, on rocks bor*
dering the Lakes of Killarney, Ireland, by Mr. Newman, and near
Warrington, and the village of Newton, on the Liverpool and Man*
Chester Railway, Lancashire ; but there the specimens are all small,
and stunted in their growth, much resembling our fig. b both in form
and size. Those stations for the plant are the most remote from the
sea that we are aware of.

The young fronds rise from the black bristly scaled rhizoma in
June and July, but are not in full seed until October and November,
when they are mostly a dark green colour above, paler beneath, and
remain so all the year. The veins of the pinnse each terminate be¬
fore reaching the margin, and are thickened or club-shaped at the end.
They are simple or branched, as is seen in the detached pinna ; each
bears on its anterior margin both of the vein and its branch the sori.
The thecae are very numerous, of a bright brown colour.

As a medicine this Fern does not seem ever to have been much
used. Ray recommends it in cases of obstructions, and says that the
mucilage, when extracted from it, and applied externally, is recom¬
mended for burns when all other applications have failed.

5. A. vir'icle, Huds. (Fig. 1593.) Green Spleenwort. Frond narrow,
linear, elongated, simply pinnate; pinnae quadrangular, ovate, cre¬
nated, alternate on short footstalks ; rachis simple, green, not winged ;
lateral veins simple or branched, and terminating before reaching the
margin ; sori near the base of the lateral veins; indusium ovate, with
a crenated margin.

English Botany, t. 2257. — English Flora, vol. iv. p. 293. — Hooker,
British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p. 388. — Newman’s British Ferns, p. 281.

Roots long, slender, black. Rhizoma tufted, scaly, a purplish
black. Fronds long, linear, simply pinnate, closely curled inwards in
vernation, and covered with bristly scales, which, however, soon fall
off, expanding into a linear elongate frond, from two to eight inches
long. The stem is quite smooth, channeled on the upper side,

72

ASPLENIUM.

[class xxiv-

rounded at tlie hack ; it is naked about one-third of its length
at the lower part, and of a bright purplish brown colour, black
at the base, the rest is a pale green, like the pinnae. Pinnce
mostly alternate, distant in the lower part, close above, some¬
times crowded, each on a short footstalk, and quite distinct one
from the other, of a bright cheerful green, and thin texture, of a
quadrangular ovate figure, tapering at the base often obliquely*
the margin of the two upper sides crenated, rarely lobed. They are
variable in figure, as will be seen from the marginal illustrations.
Their lateral veins are simple or branched, and terminate before
reaching the margin in a thickened or club-shaped manner (fig. a.)
The son are half linear ovate, or ovate, beeoming confluent circular
masses; they arise from the inner margin of the lower
half of the lateral veins (fig. b J, and mostly below the
origin of the branches, when they are present, which
is far from being constantly the case. The indusium
(fig. c) is half linear ovate, pale, thin, membranous,
waved or notched on the margin, which disappears as
the masses of thecae spread and become confluent.
The tliecco are a bright chestnut brown, globose, with
an elastic beaded band encircling them, which in time
ruptures the delicate membranous sides, and allows
the angular rough sporules to escape.

Habitat. — Mountainous districts of England, Scot¬
land, and Ireland, especially in the vicinity of water¬
falls ; but not very common.

Perennial ; in perfection in August.

This very beautfful and elegant little Fern is well
characterised by its specific name, viride, for its
fronds are amongst the most beautifully cheerful
green of any of our species, and its rachis is always
of the same colour, the lower part of its stem only
being of a brown colour. The drawing illustrating
this species is made the natural size of the plant-
The pinnae (fig. a, b,J are magnified, to show more
clearly their structure ; and fig. c still more so, to show the form of
the indusium ; while the above sketches of some of the different forms
of the leaves will give an idea of their variableness. It is, however’
one of the least variable of our species, and one which the student
will have tli6 least difficulty in referring to its proper place. The fol¬
lowing species is its nearest ally, but there are characters, as will be
seen, so distinctive, as readily to divide them one from the other.

1598

Scolopendrium vulgare.

• .

'

1600 Cystopteris fragilis.

1601 Cystopteris montano.

.

.

>-

CLASS XXIV.]

ASPLENIUM.

73

6. A. Tricho' manes, Linn . (Fig. 1594.) Common Wall Spleenwort.
Frond narrow, linear, elongated, simply pinnate; pinnae roundish
oblong, obtuse, unequally crenated, on a short footstalk ; rachis
simple, black, not winged; lateral veins branched from near the base,
and terminating before reaching the margin ; the anterior branch
bearing the sori about its middle ; indusium linear, with an even
margin.

English Botany, t. 576. — English Flora, vol. iv. p. 292. — Hooker,
British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p. 387. — Newman’s British Ferns, p. 285.

Root long, slender, black, fibrous, and wiry. Rhizomd tufted,
black, and scaly. Frond curled up in vernation, gradually expand¬
ing into a linear elongated form, gracefully drooping and varying
from three to twelve or fourteen inches long, simply pinnate, the
pinnae opposite and alternate. Stem quite smooth, shining, purplish
brown its entire length, almost black at the base, very brittle, with a
broad narrow channel on its upper side, having a narrow membra¬
nous wing of a paler colour, rounded at the back, a transverse section
of which is represented in fig. a. The lower part is naked, varying
from a third to a sixth of its length ; in the rest the pinna are alter¬
nate or opposite on short footstalks, generally of a roundish oblong
obtuse form, somewhat wedge-shaped at the base, and more or less
deeply and equally crenated on the margin. Thus, the general
form is variable, some of the more remarkable ones are repre¬
sented in the marginal figures ; the lower one is almost pinnated,
it is so deeply cut. They are usually quite distinct, as seen in
the plate in the two varieties there represented, but occasionally
they are so crowded as to overlay each other. The lateral veins are
mostly branched from near the base in a forked manner, the anterior
branch bearing the sori about its middle. They terminate just before
reaching the margin, and are very slightly enlarged ; in many, how¬
ever, they are not so. The indusium is linear, of a pale thin membra¬
nous texture, having its margin entire, or slightly crenated, as seen in
the detached pinna, which is drawn larger than generally found
The sori, as they expand, become confluent, and cover the whole
back of the pinnae in one mass of theca, which are small, globose,
with a beautiful elastic ring encircling them. Sporules minute,
angular, roughish.

Habitat. — Bocks, walls, old ruins, banks, and hedge rows ; frequent.

Perennial ; in perfection in August.

This is one of our most generally distributed and common Ferns,
K

74

ASPLENIUM.

LCLA8S XXIV

forming frequently in favourite situations for its growth on old damp
walls or bridges a most beautiful and elegant covering, a living
tapestry, which no art can imitate, and every description must fail to
convey any idea of such of nature’s works in her luxuriance. Our
drawing represents a moderate sized specimen the natural size. The
detached pinna is not larger than is often found growing in moist
shady places, and shows the under side. The marginal figures of
some of the varied forms are also drawn the natural
size. The lower one is extremely rare, for this
species is perhaps the most constant in its characters
of all our Ferns; which is remarkable, considering
the very varied situations in which it grows, and how
widely it is distributed. It is remarkable also in the
manner in which the pinna falls from the stem after
it has accomplished its purpose, in the same way
that the leaves fall off from the stem and branches
of flowering plants.

As a medicinal plant this was much celebrated in
former days for the cure of coughs, colds, and various
affections of the chest, and was administered in the
form of tea, or made into a syrup ; but it has nowa¬
days lost its reputation, and is rarely, if ever, used for such like
affections.

7. A. sejotentriona le, Hoff. (Fig. 1595.) Forked Spleenwort. Frond
elongate, lanceolate, lobed and bifid at the apex, the teeth acute ;
stem green, except quite at the base ; veins simple, one running into
each tooth ; sori linear on the inner margin of the veins ; indusium
linear, entire on the margin.

English Botany, t- 1017. -English Flora, vol. iv. p. 295. — Hooker,
British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p. 387. — Newman’s British Ferns, p.
269. — Acrostichum, Linn.

Roots long slender branched fibres, much entangled. Rhizoma
tufted, often very large, forming an entangled mass, and putting out
numerous fronds, which grow erect, horizontal, or drooping, according
to the position in which the plant has fixed itself upon the top or side
of a rock or wall. They are from one to four inches long, slender,
channeled on the upper side, rounder on the under of the stem,
green, except quite at the base. The frond is of a laneeolate figure,
narrow, tapering at the base, and terminating in a long slender
curved point, or lobed, with one, two, or three lateral lobes, seldom

CLASS XXIV.

ASPLEN1UM.

76

more, which are bifid at the point, or simply pointed, veined or ribbed
on the upper side, and a darkish green, paler on the under side. The
lateral lobes are simply cut, as it were, from the main frond, as seen
in the upper plant of our plate, (fig. a,) or the lateral lobes form a
distinct pinna, elevated on a footstalk, as seen in the lower plant
(fig b.) The sori are linear, as long or nearly so as the pinna
arising from the inner margin of the lateral veins. The indusium is
a long linear lanceolate pale thin membrane, with an entire margin,
or slightly waved. Each sori has but one indusium ; hut when the
opposite lateral veins each bear a sori, it appears as though it was a
single sori, with a double indusium, which will be seen in the fronds
of fig. b. As the thecse become developed, the sori are confluent, and
they in time form a thick mass, covering the whole pinna, and push
away the indusium and destroy it. The thecce are dark brown,
globose, very numerous, and contain many ovate angular rougliish
sporules.

Habitat. — Fissures of rocks and interstices of stone walls; rare.
Carnarvonshire, in Wales. Northumberland, Westmoreland, Cum¬
berland, Somersetshire, and according to Tojield, on Ingleborough,
Yorkshire, England. Near Edinburgh, and at Stenton Rock, near
Dunkeld, Perthshire, Scotland.

This very rare and remarkably formed plant is so dissimilar to any
other of our species, that there is but little fear of its being mistaken
for or confounded with them. The twro specimens which we have given
in illustration are both represented as they were found growing, and are
from Arthur’s Seat, near Edinburgh. The upper one, a, is as it
grew from the fissure of a rock ; b from the ledge of a rock, nearly
erect, where it was supplied with a greater quantity of moisture.

The fronds first make their appearance in March and April, but do
not attain their perfect state before August, and they remain green
the whole year. Though a rare plant, it has an extensive range of
growth; it will flourish near the sea amidst its saline atmosphere,
and we have found it high on the Alpine mountains of Switzerland,
as well as on the elevated mountains in the Appennines of Italy.

8. A. Ru' ta-muraria, Linn. (Fig. 1596.) Wall Rue Spleenwort
Frond triangular, hi- or tri-pinnate ; pinnules obovate, wedge-shaped,
or linear wedge-shaped, toothed or crenated ; indusium crenated or
jagged on the margin.

English Botany, t. 150. — English Flora, vol. iv. p. 296. — Hooker,
British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p. 388. — Newman’s British Ferns, p. 261.

76

ASPLENIUM.

[CLASS XXXV.

Roots long, branched, black, tough and wiry, more or less downy.
Rhizoma thick tufted and scaly, black. Fronds green, from one to
six inches long, or even more. The stem is slender, channeled on its
upper side, crowded at the back, green in the upper part, dark brown
or black at the base, where too it is swollen. The form of the frond
is triangular, oblong, and bi- or tri-pinnate. The pinna are stalked,
and the pinnules also are mostly on a short footstalk ; they are of a
lozenge-shape, or roundish, with a wedge-shaped base, or linear ovate,
or narrow wedge shaped. The upper margin is crenated, or obtusely
serrated, sometimes lobed. The veins all arise from the base, and are
divided upwards, each branch terminating in a tooth Sori mostly
numerous, linear, attached to the inner margin of the veins, shortly
becoming confluent, and covering the back of the pinnule in one mass
of tliecse. The indusium is pale, thin, membranous, linear, with the
margin jagged or sinuated (fig. a,) but this soon
becomes pushed aside, and disappears by the increase
of the theca, which are numerous, globose, brown,
and encircled with an elastic beaded ring.

Habitat. — Old walls and the fissures of rocks ;
abundant.

Perennial ; in perfection in September.

This little Fern will be familiar to all who have
been in the habit of looking around them in search
of botanical specimens, for it locates itself in the
mortar of almost every old wall or ruin in most
parts of England, Scotland, and Ireland. These
situations it seems to prefer to the rocks and wilds of
nature, producing its elegant tufts of fronds of greater or less length
and size, according to its more or less favourable situation of growth.
Our plate illustrative of this species is drawn from a fine well-grown
plant of the ordinary kind, but not of either an uncommon size or
developement, and may be considered the normal form of the species.
Its variations, however, are so striking, as will be seen from our
marginal illustrations, that it has induced in some botanists the belief
that the following species is only one of its varieties ; the constancy,
however, of the simply pinnate fronds, and the entire even margin of
the indusium, will keep the latter a separate species. The detached
pinnule is drawn larger than the natural size, to show the distribution
of the veins and the situation of the linear sori; and the back of one
of the fronds shows the thick mass these sori form as they advance to

1602

Polystichum Lonchitis.

CLASS XXIV.]

ASPLENIUM.

77

maturity and become confluent. The lower frond represented in the
marginal illustration of the varieties is the most remarkable which
we have found. It grew in a very thick tuft upon a wall close to
another cluster of the same species, but with fronds resembling that

of fig. 1596. Its pin¬
nules are almost circular,
flat, and entirely covered
at the back with the con¬
fluent sori The frond
is drawn the size of na¬
ture. The fronds repre¬
sented in the sketch
above this grew upon
a rock in a shady damp
situation.

The medical virtues of
this plant are said by
Lightfoot to be pectoral,
and that it was formerly
sold in the shops as a
remedy for the relief of
coughs, asthmas, obstructions of the liver, spleen, and in scorbutic
complaints. It is not now used as a medicine, except by country
dames in their domestic nostrums.

9. A. germani'cum, Weiss. (Fig. 1597.) Alternate-leaved Spleenwort.
Frond linear, simply pinnate; pinnse alternate, remote, wedge-shaped,
notched and toothed at the apex ; indusium entire on the margin.

Newman’s British Ferns, p. 265. — A. alternifolium, Wulf. English
Botany, t. 22al. — Hooker, British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p. 387. —
English Flora, vol. iv. p. 296. — A. Breynii, Ketz.

Roots long, branched, black, tough and wiry. Rhizoma thick*
black, scaly. Frond narrow, linear, green, simply pinnate. The
stem is green, mostly waved, channeled on the upper side, rounded at
the back, and black, or dark purplish black at the base. The pinnce
arise alternately almost erect, and remote from each other, are of a
linear wedge-shaped form, on a short footstalk, are bifid or toothed at
the end, sometimes on the side. The terminal pinna is mostly more
pear-shaped and toothed. The veins all arise from the base, sending
a branch to each tooth, and bearing on the inner margin, as seen in
the detached pinna, linear sori, which become confluent as the plant

7S

SOOLOPENDRIUM.

[class xxiv.

advances to maturity. The indusium is a linear thin pale membra¬
nous structure, with an entire margin. The theca globose, with an
elastic beaded ring encircling it, and the sporules are angular, ovate,
roughish.

Habitat. — Fissure of rocks; very rare. Three miles from Dun
fermline, Fifeshire. — D. A. Dewar. Hooker. — Stenton Rocks, near
Dunkeld, Perthshire. — Mr. Williamson. Newman. — Rocks in South
of Scotland. — Mr. Dickson. Some sunny rocks about two miles from
Kelso on the Tweed. — Smith.

Perennial ; in perfection in September.

Wild British specimens of this very rare Fern we have not been
able to procure, so that our illustration is made from continental ones.
It is drawn of the natural size and proportions, as situated upon the
place of its growth on a rock. The detached pinna is drawn larger
than it actually grows, for the purpose of showing the situation of the
sori and structure of the indusium.

GENUS XI. SCOLOPEN'DRIUM.— Smith. Common Hart’s-

tongue.

Gen. Char. Soril inear, transverse, on lateral veins, always double.
Indusium appearing single from both, opening on the inner
edge, and attached to the outer. — Name from the Hues of fruc¬
tification having some resemblance to the feet of a Scolopendra.

1. S. vulga're, Symons. (Fig. 1598 ) Common Hart' s-tongue. Frond
lanceolate, or oblong lanceolate, heart-shaped at the base ; rachis
scaly.

English Botany, t. 1150. — English Flora, vol. iv. p. 301. — Hooker,
British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p. 389. — Newman’s British Ferns, p. 289. —
&. officinarum, Swartz. — S. Phyllitis, Roth. — Asplenium Scolopen
drium, Linn.

/3. polyschides, Ray. (Fig. a, page 79.) Frond linear elongate, the
margin deeply and irregularly lobed and crenate.

y. crispa, Koch. Frond lanceolate, waved and unequally lobed on
the margin.

lobata. (Fig. b, page 79.) Frond dilated at the end, and cut
into lanceolate lobes.

(. dcedalea, Koch. (Fig. c, page 79.) Frond greatly dilated at the
end, and divided into numerous unequal curled lobes, deeply erosed
on the margin ; stem divided.

CLASS XXIV.]

Co

/i)

,( / 1

SCOLOPENDRIUM.

79

I'V

> ,!

Roots very long, black, stout, tough, fibrous
Rhizoma thick tufted, black and scaly. Fronds
numerous, curled up in vernation, and as they
uncurl are erect, at length they become grace¬
fully drooping, or pendulous, often forming
large circular elegant tufts of very numerous
fronds ; they are of a linear lanceolate or
ligulate or oblong figure, acute, occasionally
obtuse at the point, but subject, as will be
seen from the above enumeration, to considera¬
ble varieties. The base is alway sheart-shaped ;
the length of the frond varies from a few inches
to two feet, sometimes more ; its width varies
from one to three inches. The stem is short,
compressed, of a purplish brown colour,
clothed with lanceolate pale thin scales, nar¬
row and hair-like in the upper part. The
texture of the frond is thick and leathery, a
bright shining grass green above, paler and
dull beneath. Occasionally the whole plant is

/n/vj!

80

SCOLOPENDRIUM.

[class xxrv.

scattered over with liair-like scales, at other times it is only on this
under side, and more frequently it is quite smooth. The stem, or
rather the mid rib of the frond, is stout, prominent on the under side,
sends out numerous lateral veins, which are mostly bifurcated, or two
or three branched (fig. d , page 79,) each branch terminating before
reaching the margin in an oblong bulb, distinctly seen on the upper
surface (fig. e, page 79.) The upper and lower branch of many of
these sets of veins bears linear sori opposite each other, so that
though there appears only one, they are in reality two united, and the
thin membranous indusium bursting on the margins opposite each
other, seeming to form a double valve to each sorus. As the
masses expand, they push away the indusiums, which at length dis¬
appear, and the thecae become so united as to form one mass. The
sori are of very unequal lengths, and are more or less crowded.
Tliecce numerous, crowded, brown, globose, encircled with a beaded
elastic ring. Sporules roundish, rough.

Habitat — Shady banks, rocky and stony wet places, old walls and
buildings ; common.

Perennial; in perfection in August and September.

This beautiful and remarkable Fern, commonly called Hart’s-
tongue, is highly ornamental, delighting to grow on damp buildings
or rocks in humid situations, forming large elegant tufts ; and on the
ruins of old bridges, aqueducts, or old walls, it often forms a most
elegant covering, hanging its drooping form in great luxury.

- “ And there my friends

Behold the dark green frill of long lank weeds,

That all at once (a most fantastic sight !)

Still nod and drip beneath the dripping edge
Of the blue clay stone.”

Formerly this plant was admitted into the list of the Materia
Medica, and was used as an astringent in cases of diarrhoea and
hoemorrhages, and to form a kind of ointment for the cure of wounds,
cuts, and ulcers ; but it is now quite neglected, except by the country
herbalists.

Our illustration of this plant is drawn about one-third the natural
size, and shows the usual form and mode of its growth. The young
fronds exhibit its convolute developement. Fig. 1 is a transverse
section of the stem, showing the two pair of dark bands of ducts,
which transverse its whole length, and ramify it into the lateral
veins. The arrangement of the sori in this remarkable Fern we
have endeavoured to describe, and fig. 2 is intended to show the

Polystichum angalare

Polystichum aculeatum

CLASS XXIV.]

CETERACH.

81

the upper end of one of the double sori, arising from the margin of
the upper side of one vein and the lower of its opposite one ; the
indusium on each side being curled up on its free edge, and exhibit¬
ing the thecae beneath. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of a portion of
the frond, and two of the sori ; one shows the indusium, turned back
by the rising thecae on each side, the other shows the indusium,
the thecae being removed. Fig. 4 is one of the thecae, and its rough
sporules highly magnified.

The marginal illustrations are all drawn of the natural size. Fig. a
is the lower portion of a common sized frond, and exhibits the lateral
veins and the sori in the natural state ; some exhibit the sori with the
indusium opening up on each side, the rest are the confluent masses,
and fully developed. Fig. e is a small portion of the margin of the
frond, to show the club-shaped termination of- the lateral veins
magnified.

GENUS Nil. CETE'RACH. — Wiled. Ceterach.

Gen. Char. Sori oblong, or linear, clusters scattered. Indusium
obsolete, lateral veins anastomozing. — Name Chetherah,* which
was applied by the Arabian and Persian physicians to this plant.

1. C. officinar'um, Willd. (Fig. 1599.) Scaly Ceterach, or scaly
Spleenwort. Fronds pinnatifid, the underside imbricated with pale
brown membranous scales ; pinnae oblong, obtuse, entire or waved, or
lobed.

Newman’s British Ferns, p. 293. — Scolopendrum Ceterach, Sm. —
English Botany, t. 1244.— English Flora, vol. iv p. 302. — Roth.
Tent. 3. p. 48 — Grammites Ceterach, Swartz. — Hooker, British Flora,
ed. 4 vol. i. p. 382. — Gymnogramma, Spreng.— Asplenium, Linn.

Roots branched, fibrous, black tufted. Rliizoma short, thick
tufted, brown, scaly. Fronds numerous, spreading, from three to six
inches high, of a linear oblong form, pinnatifid, of a thick leathery
texture, dark green above, smooth, or with a few scattered scales on
the rachis and margins of the pinnae, thickly clothed beneath with
ovate lanceolate scales, membranous, and beautifully reticulated like
a piece of net work ; those on the stem are narrower, more lanceolate,
than those of the frond; at first they are white, but become in
maturity dark brown. The frond is convolute in vernation ; its stem

L

82

CETERACH.

[class XXIV.

is short and stout, as is the rachis. The pinna are oblong, obtuse
alternate, entire on the margin, or waved or deeply notched, as seen in
fig. a. The lateral veins arise obliquely from
the lower part of the pinna, and branched
from near their origin ; the first branch
is divided into two from near its base, and
that division nearest the main stem bears its
sorus, opening towards the main stem, while
its other branch, as well as all the rest, open
towards the main vein of the pinna, as seen in
fig. b. The ultimate divisions of the veins
often anastomose with each other, and termi¬
nate in the margin. The sori are linear,
covered by the scales until they are fully ex¬
panded, and then become prominent, and
burst through. The theca are numerous,
dark brown, and arise, as above stated, from
the margin of the lateral veins,
which is thickened into a spo¬
rangia or receptacle, as seen in
fig. c, which is a transverse
section of the pinnae through a
sorus, and shows the lateral
vein, and the insertion of the
thecae and the scales of the
pinna. Fig. d represents a sorus, and the
manner in which the scales are arranged on
each side, and which seem to arise on the
upper side from or nearly upon the sporangia,
and take the place of an indusium ; for we
have examined them in every stage, and
have never been able to find anything more
like an indusium than a slightly elevated
line in the young fronds, and this disappears
as they advance to maturity.

Habitat. — Rocks and old walls, especially
in limestone districts in the South-western
Counties of England and Ireland ; less frequent in the Midland
Counties, and rare in Scotland. Kilfinnan, Argylesliire; Kinnoul
Hill, Perthshire ; near Paisley, Renfrewshire.

Perennial ; in perfection in August.

CLASS XXIV.]

CETERACH.

83

This plant was formerly used in medicine as a diuretic, and is still
retained amongst the list of official plants in Italy. Dioscorides
greatly extols its medicinal properties, and gives directions that a
decoction of it in wine is to be taken for forty days successively ; hut
that in some cases to perform a cure it is necessary that the plant
should be gathered at night at the time when there is no moon. The
decoction has a rough mucilaginous taste, and was thought to be
useful as a pectoral medicine ; but even for this purpose it is now
quite neglected, as well as its application to wounds and ulcers.

The illustration of this species is made from an ordinary grown
plant, and is drawn the full size. Often, however, in moist situations
favourable for its developement, it grows to double this size, and the
pinnae are occasionally found deeply lobed, even much more than
represented in the marginal figure a. The scales are a most beau¬
tiful object seen by the magnifying glass, having a finely netted
appearance, as shown in figure e in the preceding page, which is one
from the back of the frond; those on the stem are more lanceolate,
and often with a long tapering point.

The scaly Spleenwort is remarkable, from the dry and arid situation
in which it grows, fixing itself on the face of rocks or the tops of
walls, and sending its slender villous roots into the crevices or among
the mortar, where but little moisture can be found ; but it seems to
require less moisture for its roots than many of the other species, pro¬
vided it is in a humid atmosphere, for it appears to have the power of
absorbing and retaining moisture more than many of the other
Terns, and this would seem to arise from the circumstance of its
being so protected from the influence of the atmosphere and other
causes, by which moisture is abstracted from the plant by its thick
covering at the back, of overlapping scales.

It is a matter of dispute among Botanists as to whether this plant
has or has not an indusium to the sori, some maintaining that it is
present, and others that it is not. We have examined with great
care many specimens at different periods of developement, but
whether from the want of more delicate manipulation in the removal
of the scales, or from some other cause, we have never been able
to see more than a narrow projecting line which can at most be
justly called an obsolete indusium, and this only because it is in the
position where the indusium is usually found; and we may suppose
from the abundant covering which the sori have in the scales that an
indusium for the protection of the young thecse is not necessary, and
consequently is not formed

84

CYSTOPTEKIS.

[ CLASS XXIV.

GENUS XIII. CYSTOP'TERIS. — Bern. Bladder-fern .

Gen. Char. iSbri roundisli clusters. Indusium
inserted by a broad base, with the thecae to the
frond, and containing the thecae like a cup, its free
margin ragged, soon falling away. — Name a com-

CJLASS XXIV.]

CYSTOPTERIS.

85

pound of
xio-tyi, a little
box ; and
wTigiSf a fern.

1. C. fra-
gi'lis, Bern .
(Fig. 1600.)
Fff Brittle Blad¬
der Fern.
Frond bi-pin-
nate, oblong
lanceolate,
the lower
pair of pinnae
shorter than
the second ;
pinnae lanceo¬
late, with
deeply pin¬
nated pin¬
nules, whose
lobes are ser¬
rated, or they are simply toothed ; the teeth acute ;
lateral veins distinct, terminating in the margin.

Cystea fragilis, Smith. — English Flora, vol. iv. p.
285. — Cyathea.— English Botany, t 1587. — Poly¬
podium fragile, Linn. — Aspidium , Sw.

/?. dentata, (fig. a, page 84.) Pinnules ovate,
obtuse, bluntly toothed ; sori mostly confluent.

Cystea dentata , Smith. — English Flora, vol. iv. p.
287. — Cyathea dentata. — English Botany, t. 1588.—
Polypodium dentation, Dicks .—Aspidium dentation, Sw.

86

CYSTOPTERIS.

[CLASS XXIV.

y. eynapifolia, (fig. t, l>age 84.) Pinnules oblong, ovate, pinnate.

its lobes oblong, notched at the apex.

Cyathea eynapifolia, Roth .-Polypodium cynapifolium, Hoffm.

J. angustata, (fig. c, page 85.) Pinnules lanceolate, acute, pinnate,

lobes lanceolate, with acute teeth.

Cystea angustata , Smith. — English Flora, vol. iv. p. 288. English
Botany, t. 2790. — Polypodium tenue , Hoffm. — P. rhaticum, Dicks.
Aspidium rhaticum, Willd. — Cyathea vegia, Doth.

e. anihriscifolia , (Fig. d, page 85.) Pinnules ovate lanceolate,

pinnate, lobes lanceolate, with obtuse teeth.

Cyathea anihriscifolia , Both .—Pylypodium anthriscifolium, Hoffm.
Roots numerous, stout, fibrous, black, wiry. Rhizoma tufted,
thickly clothed with brown lanceolate membranous scales. Frond
erect, or gracefully drooping, a bright cheerful green, somewhat paler
beneath, and of a delicate thin texture, convolute in vernation, and
rapidly advancing to maturity, of a lanceolate or oblong lanceolate
figure; the pinna lanceolate or oblong lanceolate, opposite and alter¬
nate, the lower pair shorter than the second. The pinnse are
pinnate, and their pinnules, as will be seen from the varieties enu¬
merated, are of various forms, and are simply toothed, as in
dentata , and obtusely lobed and toothed y. eynapifolia, or acutely
lobed and toothed in angustata and e. anthriscifolia. The stem is
thin, slender, and delicate, a shining brown in the lower part, green
above, very brittle, and of variable length, quite smooth, or with a
few pale brown lanceolate scales at the base. The veins are promi¬
nent, the mid-vein is waved, and the lateral veins arise alternately,
each division again divided into two, three, or four branches, one to
each serrature, which terminates in the margin. The sori are
circular, and mostly upon the lateral vein under the cleft of the lobes
or serratures, which, when numerous, form confluent marginal
masses, but mostly they are more scattered. The indusium is a pale
thin membrane, attached at its base on the under edge of the sori,
and curved over the thecae like a hood. In a young state it is of a
conical shape, more or less elongated, and sometimes remains entire
after the plant has reached maturity, as seen in the marginal illustra¬
tion (fig. e, page 85j ; more frequently it is split into segments, as
seen in fig. f page 84, but commonly as represented in the plate
(fig. 1C00.) Generally, however, as the plant advances to maturity,
the indusium shrivels up, and is scarcely observable, and at length
disappears. The theca are globose, brown, with an elastic beaded
ring, at first pale, becoming almost black.

CLASS XXIV.-]

CYSTOPTERIS.

87

Habitat. — The fissures of rocks, old walls, and banks, especially in
limestone countries ; generally distributed throughout the kingdom.

Perennial ; in perfection in J uly and August.

Few plants are more generally distributed than this very beautiful
and delicate Fern, which is aptly called Brittle Fern, from the ex¬
treme brittleness of its stem. It prefers elevated or mountainous
districts and a limestone soil, and grows most luxuriantly where it is
well supplied with moisture; but though it has this preference as to
soil and humidity, it will grow in sandy or loamy districts, and in
situations where the supply of moisture is not either great or constant,
and we suspect it is to these causes that the great variety of form iu
the pinnules is owing; influenced, also, no doubt, by the more or less
exposed situation in which they have grown. We have found that in
limestone districts, when the plants occur in an open situation,
and fully exposed to light, with a moderate supply of moisture, that
the form of the frond is as represented in fig. 1600, and its indusium
short, cut, or ragged, as there drawn, in the same soil and situation;
but with a more liberal supply of moisture it is more elongated in its
form, and then is the variety e- anthriscifolia, (fig. cl, page 85.) When
it has grown with an abundant supply of moisture, and in a confined
situation between stones or rocks, and excluded from the light, except
from reflection, or from above, it becomes still more elongated both in
the general form of the frond and the narrow lanceolate shape of the
pinnules, and is then the variety angustifolia, (fig. c, page 85.)
These changes we have observed both in Scotland and the limestone
districts of Derbyshire. The variety y. cynapifolia was collected
under a wall in a sandy soil, at Worksop, Nottinghamshire ; and /3.
dentata in Scotland, under a dry wall on the banks of Loch Lomond,
in some of the fronds the sori are so abundant, as when they become
confluent to cover the entire back of the pinnae ; in others they are
few, and scattered.

We have thus endeavoured to indicate the more marked varieties
of forms which are found in this species, but there also occur many
intermediate ones, rendering it most difficult to know to which
variety to refer them ; but we hope by the aid of our illustrations and
descriptions the student will find valuable assistance in his investiga¬
tions. There is, however, another variety found on a wall at Lower-
Layton, near Wallhamstone, Essex, which has been described by
Smith, English Flora, vol. iv. p. 290, as Cystea regia, and is figured
in English Botany, t. 163, under the name of Cyathea incisa ; but as

CYSTOPTERIS.

[class XXIV,

88

there appears to be some doubt as to its being a true native plant,
We shall here only retain its specific characters, as given in English
Botany.

“Frond lanceolate, bi-pinnate, pinnatifid; its segments lohed, ob¬
tuse, and beardless ; stalk slightly winged ; calyx (indusium) lacerated,
and turned to one side.’

Cystopteris alpina, Desv.— Babington’s British Botany, p. 387 —
Cystopteris fragilis, var. 4.— Newman’s British Ferns, p. 157.

The figure given in Newman’s British Ferns, p. 157, as well as that
in English Botany, greatly resembles specimens which we have col¬
lected in the Alps of Switzerland.

2. C. monta'na , Link. (Fig* 1601.) Mountain Bladder-fern. Frond
smooth, tri-pinnate, triangular, deltoid; the lower pair of pinnae
much longer than the others; pinnae lanceolate, or oblong; the
pinnules lanceolate, or oblong, pinnated, and their lobes deeply cut
and toothed, their apex emarginate, or bi-dentate ; lateral veins pro¬
minent, terminating in the margin.

Newman’s British Ferns, p. 159. — Polypodium montanum , Hacuke.
— Aspidium montanum , Swartz.— Cyathea montana, Roth.

Boot fibrous. Rhizoma tufted, scaly. Fronds erect, or slightly
drooping, of a triangular deltoid form, from the lower pair of pinnae^
which are always opposite, or nearly so, being much larger than any
of the others, indeed sometimes as large and as long as the whole of
the rest of the frond. The pinnae are pinnate, the pinnules alter¬
nate and stalked, of an oblong lanceolate form, pinnatifid, with the
lower lobes stalked, all are more or less deeply cut and toothed, the
apex of each division being notched or bi-dentate, and the lateral
veins terminating between them; the pinnules, though distinctly
stalked, are connected one with the other by a narrow wing, winch
runs on each side of the mid-rib. The texture of the frond is thin
and delicate, with the ribs and lateral veins prominent ; they arise
alternately, and are branched or simple, and terminate in the margin
between the cleft at the apex. Sori large for the size of the plant,
circular, and though often much crowded, still they do not one run
into the other in confluent masses ; each retains its individual form,
arising from the lateral veins near the margin of the frond. Indu¬
sium pale, thin, membranous, of a pyramidal form, attached by its
base to the lateral vein, and its apex pointing towards the cleft of the
serrature, its margin is at first entire, bending over the thecae like a
hood. It soon, however, becomes jagged or torn on the margin, and

WNYAPOD

\]f (g

Lastraea Thclyptc'

Ci.ASS XXIV.]

POLYSTICHUM.

89

shortly shrivels up aud disappears. Theca dark brown, with an
elastic beaded ring. Stem long, slender, smooth, or with a few scat¬
tered brown scales towards the base ; generally the stem is much
longer than the frond, rarely shorter, green above, and brown and
shining at the base.

Habitat — Ben Lawers, Forfarshire, Scotland. — Mr. Wilson.

Perennial ; in perfection in August.

This beautiful and distinct species of Cystopteris was found by Mr.
Wilson, in August, 1830; but not possessing any native plants, we have
made the drawing from Swiss specimens, and drawn up the descrip-
ion from the same. It is not a very common, though generally
distributed plant in Switzerland, and on the higher mountains of the
Appennines in Italy, and is readily distinguished from all others.

Our illustration is drawn the full size of an ordinary plant, and
represents the pinnae all nearly opposite. It is, however, often
found with the upper ones alternate, and the first and second 'pair
only opposite.

GENUS XIV. POLYSTI'CHUM. —Roth. Shield-fern.

Gen. Char So ri roundish clusteis, scattered. Tndusium orbicular,
or nearly so, attached by the centre only.

1. P. Lonchi'tis, Roth. (Fig. 1602.) Rough Alpine Shield-fern , or
Holly-fern. Fronds linear lanceolate, simply pinnate; pinnae lanceo¬
late, falcate, acute, ciliato-serrated, very rigid, the upper edge auriou-
lated at the base, rounded on the lower, the under side scaly.

Newman’s British Ferns, p. 163. — Polypodium Lonchitis, Linn. —
English Botany, t. 797 .— Aspidium, Sw. — English Flora, vol. iv. p.
277. — Hooker, British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p. 383.

Roots fibrous, wiry, strong, long, black. Rhizoma thick tufted,
and clothed with brown thin membranous lanceolate scales. Fronds
from six to twelve inches long, of a linear lanceolate figure, and
simply pinnate, very rigid, and a somewhat leathery texture, a full
smooth shining green on the upper side, paler beneaih, and more or
less clothed with narrow lanceolate pale membranous scales. Pinna
alternate, more or less thickly crowded, and overlaying each other;

M

90

POLYSTICHUM.

[class XXIV

each is on a short footstalk, of a lanceolate somewhat crescent-shape,
curved upwards ; the base on the upper margin is auriculated with
an ovate lanceolate lobe, the lower is^smootli, and tapering to the
footstalk. The lower pinnae are lobed on both sides at the base, all
are toothed on the margin with acute teeth, terminating in a bristle
point. The mid-rib is straight, or slightly waved. The lateral veins
are alternate, three branched, the two lower ones terminate in each
tooth and the margin, the upper one terminates before it reaches the
margin, and bears about its middle a circular sorus ; the auricle is
furnished with a mid-rib and lateral vein of its own, which are
arranged in the same manner as the others. Sori circular, numerous,
becoming confluent, and forming a continuous line on each side
about midway between the mid-rib and margin ; the sori are most
numerous on the upper pinna3, the lower are often without or loosely
scattered over with them. Indusium circular, attached to the lateral
veins by a short central cord, around which the thecae arise, which are
globose, numerous, a deep brown colour, encircled with a beaded
elastic ring. Sporules ovate, angular, minute.

Habitat, — Shady clefts of rocks and stones ; on the highest moun¬
tains of Scotland and Wales; Falcon Clints, Durham; rare in
Ireland.

Perennial ; in perfection in September and October.

This very beautiful and remarkable Fern is the most hardy of our
species, growing on the most lofty of our mountains, and in the most
barren and exposed situations, luxuriating in the blast and flourish¬
ing only in the pure atmosphere of those lofty regions ; hut it is not a
very common plaut in any situation. It is the most rigid of our
species, and so sharp and hard are the spines of its teeth, as to well
entitle it to its common name of Holly-fern.

The figures illustrative of this species are drawn of the natural size
and proportion. Fig. a represents a frond from the mountains in
Wales, in which it will be seen the auricle of each pinnae is turned
behind the one before it; not unfrequently, however, it is found with
the auricle turned forward instead of backward. The other frond
(fig. b) is drawn from a specimen collected near the top of Ben
Lomond, Scotland. Both are represented in the position in which
they were growing. Fig. c represents one of the pinnae larger than
natural, to show the mode of the distribution of the veins and the
position of the sori, as they are attached to the lateral veins. Fig. d
is a pinnae the natural size, and shows the form of the indusium,

Cl ASS XXIV.]

rOLYSTICIIUM.

91

surrounded by the thecae, one of which
is represented above, with its beau¬
tiful elastic beaded ring, and the
minute oblong angular sporules highly
magnified. The stem , as will be seen,
is short, and thickly covered with brown
lanceolate membranous scales, which
are also frequently more or less scat,
tered in the lower part of the rachis.

It is not unfrequent in the Swiss
Alps, where both the forms are found,
and the difference, as far as we have
observed, seems to be caused by the
more rigid one growing in a dryer
and more exposed situation than the
other.

2. P, aculea'tum, Roth. (Fig. 1603,
and e, page 92 ) P richly -fern. Frond
bhpinnate, lanceolate ; pinnae lanceo¬
late; pinnules lanceolate, with a spi¬
nous point ; the lower ones stalked,
and entire, or slightly auricled on the
upper side at the base, the rest decur-
rent, or united at the base, and all
standing at an acute angle with the
mid rib of the pinna.

Newman’s British Ferns, p. 169.

fi. lonchitioides. (Fig. a annexed,
b, c, page 92.) Pinnae simple, more or
less deeply toothed and auricled on the
upper side at the base.

Aspidium lobaturn, fi. lonchitioides. —
Hooker. Hooker’s British Flora, ed. 4.
v. i. p 384. — A. aculeatum.— fi. English
Flora, p. 277.

y. lobaturn. (Fig. d, page 92.) Pinnae
pinnatifid, the lower pinnules stalked,
not auricled at the base, the rest de¬
current.

Hudson. — Aspidium — English Botany,

92

rOLYSTICHUM.

[f'tASS XXIV.

t. 1563.— Eng.
lish Flora, vol.
iv p. 278.—
Hooker, British
Flora, ed. 4. vol.
i. p. 384.

Roots long,
strong, tough.
Rhizoma large,
thick tufted, and
densely clothed
with brown mem¬
branous lan¬
ceolate scales.
Frond erect, or
gently drooping,
from one to
three feet long,
of a lanceolate
form, bi-pinnate.
Stem short,

thick, channeled
above, thickly
clothed with

lanceolate mem¬
branous scales,

of various length and size, as well as the rachis often even to the

class xxiv.] rOLYSTICHUM. 93

end. The firmed are pinnate, of a lanceolate form, and stand off from
the rachis nearly at a right angle. They are of a tough leathery
texture, very rigid, smooth and glossy on the upper surface, mostly
of a dark green, occasionally paler ; the under side is more or less
thickly clothed with hair-like scales, a pale dull green, and mostly
studded over with small circular depressions, a character which we
have not observed in the following species, when the pinnae are
entire and toothed, as in fig. a , page 91, or toothed and auricled at
the base, as in fig. b and c, page 92, which are detached from the
rachis, it is the variety (3. ; when they are pinnated at the base, and
lobed upwards, as in fig. d, page 92, it is the variety y. ; when, how¬
ever, the pinnae are more divided, and the pinnules only united at the
upper part and point, as in fig. e, page 92, it is the P. aculeatum.
The pinnules are ovate lanceolate, with a sharp spinous point, and
serrated with sharp rigid bristle pointed teeth. They stand off from
the main stem of the pinna in a more acute angle than the following
species The first upper pinnule is mostly much larger than the
rest, and stands behind the pinna above it, thus forming a continuous

linear sorus on each side the rachis. The
lower ones are sometimes auricled on the
outside at the base, as in fig. f. ; but fre¬
quently they are without the mid-rib of the
pinnules, slightly waved, terminating in
the point. The lateral veins alternate, two
or three branched, the anterior one bearing
the sorus, and terminating before reaching
the margin, the other terminate in the
teeth ; the auricles have a separate mid-rib,
and lateral veins. Sori numerous, con¬
fined to the upper part of the frond, the
lower ones very rarely bearing any. They
are situated about mid way between the
margin and mid-rib, circular, mostly dis¬
tinct, rarely confluent. Indusium circular*
attached to the lateral vein by a short
central stalk, around which the numerous thecae arise. As the plant
advances to maturity, the indusium curls up, shrivels, and falls away,
leaving the thecae naked, which are then dark brown, sometimes
almost black clusters.

Habitat. — Hedges, banks, and shady situations; common.

Perennial ; in perfection in August and September.

94

POLYSTICHUM.

[class xxiv.

The various forms which this plant assumes in the shape and
division of its pinnules render it one of extreme difficulty to define.
It is connected so intimately on the one hand with the former species,
P. lonchitis, as will be seen by the illustration (fig. a, page 91,) which
is of a hard rigid texture, though not so much so as P. lonchitis ; but
this, together with pinnules, (fig. b and c, page 92,) intimately con¬
nect them. On the other hand, fig. d, page 92, it will be seen, as well
as the pinnae in the plate, (fig. 1003), show the frond more or less
pinnated into simple and slightly auricled pinnules; and the pinna
(fig. e , page 92,) shows nearly all the pinnules separated, and inti¬
mately connects it with the following species, P. angular e ; and the
more this species approaches P. angulare the more delicate it be¬
comes, and is less rigid in its texture. The plates (figs. 1602 and 1603)
illustrating these two species are drawn from plants exhibiting the ex¬

treme peculiarities of each, in order to show the marked difference be¬
tween them ; and if it was not for the many intermediate forms con-
nectingthem so intimately, there would beno difficulty in defining their
limits ; but the student will find their connecting links so similar, as
to consider them, as we often have, all varieties of one species; but
when there is in the extremes so great a difference, as we have shewn
in our plates, it appears best, until our knowledge of the limits of
species is more defined, to keep them under two heads, connecting
them by the varieties.

The above sketches are of young fronds of P. aculeatum, and a

CLASS XXIV.]

POLYSTICIIUM.

95

transverse section of the stem, showing five bundles of ducts, which
run through its whole length to the pinnules.

The vernation of this plant is extremely beautiful ; it arises from
the rhizoma, closely curled inwards; but when it is more expanded,
it droops backward, while the extremity still retains its tendency to
curl inwards, thus forming a double curve, and having a most graceful
appearance.

3. P. angula're, Newman. (Fig. 3 604.) Angular pinnated Fern.
Frond bi-pinnate, lanceolate ; pinnae lanceolate ; pinnules ovate
lanceolate, obtuse, all stalked, (except a few at the point), and auricu-
lated on the upper side at the base, and all standing at an obtuse
angle with the mid-rib of the pinna.

Newman’s British Ferns, p. 173. — Aspidium angulare. — English
Botany, t. 2776. — Hooker, British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p. 384. —
English Flora, vol. iv. p. 278.

Root long, strong, tough. Rhizoma large, thick tufted, and thickly
clothed with large brown membranous lanceolate scales, and very
numerous small ones. The stem of variable length, mostly about
one-fourth the length of the frond, thick and channeled above, very
scaly, as well as the rachis. The frond gracefully drooping, from one
to three feet long, of a lanceolate form, bi-pinnate. The pinna, linear
lanceolate, or lanceolate pinnate, the lower ones standing at right
angles with the stem, the upper curving towards the point, a bright
shining green on the upper side, pale dull greyish green beneath, and
more or less scattered over with slender hair-like scales, as well as
the main rib ; but not unfrequently the rachis is very scaly, and the
mid-rib of the pinna and pinnules quite smooth. Th e ptinnules are
ovate lanceolate, arising at a more obtuse angle from the mid-rib
than in the last species ; sometimes they stand at almost a right
angle, at others a very acute, auricled on the upper side at the base,
which is, however, very variable in size ; occasionally it is deeply cut
to the mid-rib, and this accompanied with the deep cut teeth, as in
fig g, page 92, it becomes almost pinnated, but usually they are of
the form of fig. h, i, j, page 92. The teeth are pointed with soft
slender bristles, or hairs, not rigid, and spiny, as in the last species.
The terminal bristle of the pinnule and the auricle is the strongest ;
the upper pinnule of each pinnae is larger than the others, but rarely
so large as in P. aculeatum, and often it is scarcely larger than the
one next it. The mid-vein is waved, and terminates in the apex ; the
lateral veins arise alternately, are mostly forked, sometimes three

96

LASTR.EA.

[class XXIV.

branched, which terminate in the teeth or margin ; but the anterior
branch which bears the sorus terminates with the sorus, and but
rarely extends beyond it. Fig. h, page 93. The sori are numerous,
circular, of a pale nut brown, often becoming confluent. Indusium
circular, attached by a short central stalk to the lateral vein, becom¬
ing curled up on its edges all round, but remains attached after the
thecae are all burst.

Habitat. — Under hedges, woods, and sheltered places; common.

Perennial ; in perfection in August and September.

This is an extremely beautiful and elegant plant, but varies much
in its size and developement, according to the more or less favourable
situations for its growth, and, indeed, fronds from the same rhizoma
vary very greatly. Figs, i and j, page 92, are both from the same
rhizoma, and appear to vary from the circumstance of the early part
of the summer being very dry, so that from the situation of the plant
it got but a spare supply of moisture, and the fronds were small,
though bearing an abundant quantity of sori ; the season then be¬
came wet, the plant was abundantly supplied with moisture, so that
new life appeared given to it, and the fronds, which were retarded in
their growth, became much larger and more developed than the
others, but without sori ; one of its pinna is represented in fig. J, page
92. This example is one amongst the causes of variation ; add to
this the soil, the exposure to the blast of mountain currents, &c., and
some clue is given to the diversities of form that are found.

GENUS XV. LAS'TRiEA. — Borg. Crested-ferns.

Gen. Char. Sori roundish clusters, scattered. Indusium reniform.

1. L. Thelyp'teris, Presl. (Fig. 1605.) Marsh-fern. Frond lanceo¬
late, pinnate; pinnae lanceolate, the two lower pair rather
shorter than the others, without glands; pinnules ovate, acute,
the margins curved inwards ; sori midway between the mid-rib
and margin ; rhizoma creeping.

Newman’s British Ferns, p. 183. — Aspidium. — English Flora, vol.
iv. p. 273 — Hooker, British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p 385.

Roots black and fibrous, downy. Rhizoma long, slender, creeping,
widely spreading, black. Frond erect, slender, of a delicate texture^
and bright cheerful green, paler beneath, from one to two feet high,
sometimes not more than a few inches, very fragile, quite smooth, or
slightly hairy on the under side, but without glands, of a lanceolate

Lastrasa rigida.

CLASS XXJVr.]

LASTRvEA.

97

figure, with the first and second pair of pinnae shorter than those
above them. Pinna linear lanceolate, opposite or alternate, the

pinnules ovate, acute,
or obtuse at the point,
the margin rolled in¬
wards, entire, or slight
ly waved or serrated,
the pair nearest the
rachis larger than the
rest, and sometimes
slightlvlohed. Lateral
veins alternate, forked
soon after leaving the
mid-rib, and termina¬
ting in the margin ;
occasionally they are
simple ; each branch
bears a nearly circular
sorus about mid-way
between the mid-rib
and the margin, soon
becoming confluent,
and forming a continu¬
ous line, which at length
covers the whole
back of the pinnules.
Theca small, globose,
pale brown, shining,
encircled with a beaded
elastic ring. Spo-
rules ovate, minute.
Tndusium very small,
flat, renifonn, pale, al¬
most white, soon pushed
on one side by the
thecae, and disappear¬
ing. Stem slender
smooth, thick, and compressed at the base with two bands of ducts,
(fig. a 1006,) rounded and more slender above, channeled, and the
two bands of ducts united into one of crescent form (fig. h 1006).

N

98

LASTR/EA

[ CLASS XXIV

Habitat. — Marshy and boggy places ; not unfrequent in England ;
very rare in Scotland. “ Among woods and bushes in the low part
of Portmore Park ; on the side of Lough Neagh, county Antrim, Mr.
Templeton ; near Lough Carra, county Mayo, Mr. J. Ball; marsh
near Mucruss, Mr. Maehay , Ireland.

Perennial ; in perfection in July and August.

The description above given is of a fertile frond ; hut in situations
where this plant grows abundantly there are also besides the fertile,
numerous barren fronds, but these only differ from the others in being
larger and seemingly more developed. The marginal figures will
better illustrate this difference than any description. Fig. a, page 97,
is a pinna of a barren frond, and fig. b of a fertile frond. Both are
drawn the natural size of ordinary grown plants; the latter shows the
position of the sori, and fig. c represents one of the sori separated and
magnified to show the shape, and the indusium surrounded with the
numerous thecse. The plate (fig. 1605) illustrates the entire frond
one-third less than the natural size. The detached pinnule drawn
larger than natural is to show the distribution of the lateral veins and
the position of the sori. The margin on one side is shown as it
generally is rolled back; the other margin is unrolled to show more
clearly the distribution of the veins and their termination in the
margin.

2. L. oreop’teris, Presl. (Fig. 1606.) Mountain Fern. Frond
elongate, lanceolate, pinnate ; pinnae lanceolate, the lower ones very
short, suh-tri angular, scattered over on the under side with resinous
glands ; pinnules flat, oblong, obtuse, entire, those next the rachis
longest ; sori marginal ; rhizoma tufted.

Newman’s British Ferns, p. 187. — Aspidium. — English Flora, vol.
iv. p. 273. — Hooker, British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p. 385. — Polypo¬
dium. — English Botany, t. 1019.

Roots numerous long tough wiry fibres. Rhizoma thick, tufted,
scaly. Fronds mostly very numerous, circinate in vernation, hut
immediately they unroll, the pinnae stand off at right angles with
the rachis, assuming much the appearance of an ostrich feather.
When the fronds are fully expanded they are of an elongate lanceo¬
late shape, tapering at the point, and the last five or six lower pair
much smaller than the rest of a triangular figure ; the upper one is
of a linear lanceolate shape, pinnate, with simple, opposite, or alter¬
nate pinnules; the lower pair mostly much larger than the rest, ob¬
long, ovate, obtuse at the point, flat, the margins entire, or waved,

class xxiv.] LASTR.EA. 99

rarely sub-crenated, of a smooth bright green above, dull beneath,
and scattered over more or less profusely with minute resinous
glands and soft pubescence : these glands emit a peculiar, but not very
pleasant odour. Lateral veins simple, sometimes branched, each
branch bearing near its extremity a circular sorus, and terminating
before reaching the margin. Sori numerous, circular, a pale brown
colour, soon becoming confluent. Indusium small, pale, thin and

membranous, sub-reniform, but soon becoming
curled up, and without any particular form, often
even in a very early stage, the indusium is fallen
away, and it has the appearance of a Poly podium.
Tliecce small, 'globose, with a beaded elastic ring.
Sjporules minute, ovate. Stem short, rounded at
the back, channeled in front, somewhat scaly,
and more or less hairy, as well as the rachis.

Habitat. — Mountainous districts in heathy
places, frequent ; not very common in low situa¬
tions ; rare in Ireland.

Perennial ; in perfection in July and August.

When these and the following species are seen
together, the student will find no difficulty in
distinguishing one from the other. The peculiar
form of the frond of this species renders it very
distinct from all other of our Ferns.

Our plate illustrative of this species (fig. 1606)
is drawn one-tliird the size of an ordinary plant.
The -detached pinnule represented larger than
natural, shows the distribution of the lateral veins
and the position of the sori, with the indusium in
the centre. The marginal illustration is a pinna
represented the natural size, and showing also
the distribution of the lateral veins and position
of the sori near the margin. The figure under it
is one of the sori removed, and delineated as seen through a magni-
jying power, showing the form of the indusium, with its jagged
margin surrounded by crowded thecae.

3. L. ruj'ida, Presl. (Fig. 1607.) Hard Fern. Fronds nearly erect,
lanceolate, bi-pinnate, the upper surface scattered over with sessile
glands; pinnae lanceolate; pinnules oblong, obtuse, stalked, deeply
lobed, each lobe serrated at the end with two or three obtuse teeth ;

| QQ LASTRU2A. [class xxiv.

stem very scaly ; indusium reniform, with a fringed glandular
margin.

Newman’s British Ferns, p. 191. — Aspidium rigidum. — English
Botany Suppl. t. 2724. — Hooker, British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p. 385. —
Polystichum strigosum, Both. — Polypodium fragrans, Linn. (?)

Boots long, fibrous. Rhizoma large, thick tufted, scaly. Stem
very thick at the base, and very thickly clothed with large reddish
brown membranous scales, which extend, hut of a much smaller size,
nearly the whole length of the rachis. Frond lanceolate, or triangular
lanceolate, nearly erect, bi-pinnate, the pinnae lanceolate, and stand¬
ing at nearly right angles with the rachis, alternate or opposite.
Pinnules oblong, obtuse, each standing on a short broad footstalk, cut
into lobes in a pinnatifid manner, and each lobe mostly three-toothed,
the end sometimes two-toothed, and the teeth triangular, with an
obtuse not spinous point. The mid-vein waved, giving its lateral
branches alternately, which are two or three branched, each branch
going to a tooth, but terminating belore reaching the margin ; the
upper branch, which is the longest, bears about its middle and mid¬
way between the mid-rib and margin, the sori, which are circular
or sub reniform clusters, becoming confluent, and covering nearly the
whole of the underside of tbe pinnule. Indusium reniform, lead
coloured, attached to the lateral vein by a short stalk at the notch, its
margin is more or less fringed with stalked glands, and the upper
surface of the frond is studded over with sessile glands, which emit a
peculiar odour, and give a somewhat glaucous hue to the plant.

Habitat. — Limestone rocks in mountainous districts. Near the
foot of the mountain, Ingleborough, Yorkshire — The Rev. W. J. Bree.
Arnside Knot, Hutton Eoof Crags, and Falcon Knot, Westmoreland.
— Rev. G. Pinder and Miss Beevor. Near the top lock of the Lan¬
caster and Kendal Canal, Lancashire.- — The Rev. T. Smytlies.

Perennial; in perfection in July.

This beautiful Fern has from its erect growth and form of frond a
good deal of the habit of L. Filix-mas, from which, however, there
will be no difficulty in distinguishing it by its glandular surface and
glandular fringed indusium. It also approaches in its stalked pin¬
nules the following species, L. erosa; but this is without glands in
any of its parts : its sori are arranged nearer the mid-rib. The plant
is very much larger, and its stem much shorter.

The plate illustrative of this species is drawn about one-tliird the
natural size. Its pinnae are represented less crowded than it is often

CLASS XXIV.]

LASTR.EA.

101

found, and it frequently is less tapering at the top of the frond. It is
also not uncommon to find the frond more lanceolate in form, having
the three or four lower pinnae one smaller than the other, the lowest
one sometimes being almost triangular; but these are young, and not
fully developed fronds. The detached pinnule is drawn larger than
natural, in order to show more clearly the divisions of its lobes, the
form of its teeth, the arrangement of its lateral veins, and the situa¬
tion of the sori upon them. Below this is represented one of the
indusiums also magnified, to show its glandular fringed margin.

4. L. ero'sa , Dealcin. (Fig. 1608.) Knawed Fern.

Frond oblong lanceolate, acute, bi-pinnate ; pinnse linear lanceo¬
late, pinnate ; pinnules oblong, acute, lobed, and serrated, with acute
teeth, distinct, and mostly distant from each other, and notched at the
base, the first superior one longer than the others; lateral veins three
or four branched, the anterior branch bearing a circular cluster of
thecse, and from six to fourteen on a pinnule ; indusium orbicular-
reniform, flat, the margin uneven.

Aspidium Filix mas, (3- erosum, Doll, rhein. Flor. p. 10. — A. depas-
trum et A. erosum, Sclik. cypt. t. 45 et 51.— Polypodium Heleopteris ,
Borkhausen in Roem arch. 1, 8. p. 19.

Roots long, tough, branched, a dark brown colour. Rhizoma
elongate, scaly. Frond from six to eight feet high, elegantly droop¬
ing. The stem is bent and much enlarged at the base, and very
thickly clothed with ovate lanceolate thin bright brown coloured
membranous scales The points are mostly much elongated, slen¬
der, and the sides often split into narrow segments. The upper
part of the stem, rachis, and rib of the pinnae, are more or less scat¬
tered over with very narrow hair-like scales, of a paler colour. The
naked stem is less than a third of the whole length of the frond
which is of an oblong lanceolate form, with an acute point, and the
plant now before us measures sixteen inches across its widest pait,
each pinnae being near eight inches long, and one and half wide. Ihe
pinnae are linear lanceolate, pinnate. The pinnules oblong, acute, oi
linear lanceolate, distant from each other, and for the most part dis¬
tinctly spirated and notched on each side at the base, so that tLey
stand on a short broad footstalk : this is the case with the first six to
ten pair, the rest are notched on the upper side only, except those
forming the point, and are connected by a narrow wing one to the
other ; all are deeply cut into lobes, and more or less deeply toothed, or
lobed at the base and toothed towards the point. I lie fust supeiior

102

pinnule is longer and
narrower than the first
lower one, which is
auriculated on the un¬
der side at the base.
The mid-rib is some¬
what waved. The
lateral veins arise al¬
ternately, and give off
a branch from near
the base towards the
mid-rib, which bears
the sori near its base ;
two others, sometimes
three, arise alternate¬
ly, but do not bear
sori, and terminate
before reaching the
margin in an elon¬
gated bulb, which
forms a scar on the
upper surface. The
lateral veins towards
the point of the pin¬
nules are simple or
forked, but these do
not bear sori, and it
would seem as though
it was an exception to
the arrangement for
a lateral branch with
one branch only to
bear sori; each pin.
nule bears from six
to fourteen sori, ar¬
ranged on each side
the mid-rib, and
though the thecae ex¬
tend beyond the mar¬
gin of the indusium,
they do not seem to

LASTILEA.

CLASS XXIV.]

LASTE^A.

103

forma continuous confluent mass, as in the last species; indusium
orbicular, reniform, attached to the vein by a slender pedicel, a
yellowish brown colour, the margin somewhat jagged. Theca small,
globose, a pale yellowish brown colour.

Habitat. — Wood, Cathcart hills, near Glasgow ; and near Cocker-
mouth. — Miss Browne.

Perennial ; in perfection in August.

Specimens of this very beautiful and magnificent Fern we col¬
lected on the Cathcart hills in 1833, where it was growing in great
profusion. Its habit is that of L. Filix mas , but it appears to us to
have so many distinctive marks, as will he seen from the foregoing
description, that we have ventured to raise it to the rank of a species,
as it is in Schkuhr’s Crypt, t. 45 and 51, under the name of Aspi-
dium depastum and A. erosum ; and we regard the variety mentioned
by Mr. Newman, p. 201, as being found by Miss Browne, of Tallantre
Hall, Cockermoutb, a pinna of which is figured p. 197, b, as be¬
longing to the same species.

Our plate illustrative of this species is drawn one-sixth the
natural size. The detached pinnules are represented the full size,
showing the lobed and serrated margins. Fig. a, shows the position
of the sori; and fig. b, the disposition of the lateral veins, and the
position of the sori upon the superior branch. The marginal illus¬
tration page 102, is a detached pinna, drawn the size of nature
from which a more correct idea will be formed of the size and beauty
of the plant.

5. L. Filix mas, (Fig. 1G09.) Male Fern. Frond oblong lanceolate,
bi-pinnate; pinnae linear lanceolate, pinnate; pinnules oblong, ob
tuse, serrated, with obtuse teeth, smooth, mostly united one to the
other at the base ; lateral veins forked or tufted, the anterior branches,
bearing a circular cluster of thecae, and from four to eight on a
pinnule; indusium reniform, becoming circular, the margin entire or
notched.

Newman’s British Ferns, p. 197. — Aspidium. — English Botany, t.
1458, and (t. 1949) A. cristatum. — English Flora, vol. iv. p. 275. —
Hooker, British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p 385.

Boots brown, long, strong, tough, and wiry. Bhizoma thick, scaly,
tufted, often becoming much elongated. Fronds oblong lanceolate,
nearly erect, at first closely curled up in vernation, but when a little
advanced, the upper part is set free, and it hangs down, forming a
kind of shepherd’s crook ; when fully expanded, the frond is from two

LASTRJEA.

[clash XXIV.

104

to four feet long, the stem forming about one-third its length, and
more or less thickly clothed with thin brown membranous scales, as
well as the rachis. Pinna linear lanceolate, opposite and alternate,
mostly standing at right angles from the rachis, pinnated, a dark,
smooth, shining, green above, paler and dull beneath. The pinnules
are oblong, obtuse, attached to the mid-rib of the pinnule by its broad
base, and one united to the other by a narrow wing ; the first pair are
often longer than the others, and notched and auricled at the base ;
the margins are entire or serrated, with obtuse teeth, the mid-vein is
mostly waved, the lateral veins alternate, forked near the base, and
terminating just before reaching the margin. The anterior branch
bears a sorus about midway between the midrib and margin, and is
rather shorter than the other. Sori mostly numerous, from one to
eight on a pinnule, circular, beeoming confluent, a bright brown
colour. Indusium large, reniform, becoming circular, smooth, mostly
of a leaden hue, entire or waved, or notched on the margin, and
remains a long time attached to the plant. Theca globose, with a
beautiful beaded elastic ring. Sporules minute, numerous.

Habitat. — Woods, shady and cultivated places, banks and hedge
rows ; common.

Perennial ; in perfection in August.

This, the common Male Fern, is one of the most abundant and
generally distributed of our species ; but though so common, it is not
the least beautiful of our Ferns ; and being so common and so gene¬
rally distributed, it is, as might be supposed, very variable in size and
appearance, owing to the different kinds of soil and situation in which
it has grown. It is not uncommon to find it in dry exposed situations
in a sandy soil only a few inches long; while in positions favourable to
its growth and expansion it attains the height of four feet, and even
more; and this large size seems to be attained especially by the barren
fronds. In Mr. Winche’s Herbarium, now in the possession of the
Linnaean Society, there is a specimen in fruit, having simple pinnae,
with waved but undivided margins. This remarkable variety is very
rare ; but it is not uncommon to find the pinnules more or less deeply
toothed on the margin, and occasionally lobed, but these much
developed plants are usually barren. Fig. a and h in the marginal
illustration are drawn the natural size of the pinnae, of two varieties
of barren fronds, which, compared with the fig. c, which is the
natural size also of an ordinary fruit-bearing plant, show the
position and common number and form of the sori. Fjg. d is one of

1008

Lastraea erosa.

.

'

CLASS XXIV.]

LASTRiEA.

105

the pinnules magnified, to show the
disposition of the lateral veins, and the
arrangement of the sori upon the su¬
perior vein. Figs, e and f are two forms
of the indusium, as they are usually
found, detached, and magnified. The
plate (fig. 1607) is a plant drawn one-
fourth the natural size, and shows the
mode of its developement from the
rhizoma. Mr. Newman mentions a
plant departing from the usual form,
found near Stormont House, Belfast.
“ The points of discrepancy,” he says,
“ are these: frond narrow, elongate ; pin¬
nules very distant; clusters of capsules
(thecae) separate and distant : I am
indebted to Mr. Moore for a specimen
of this curious plant.” Another form
Mr. Newman mentions, which grows in
the north of England in company with
Lastrcea rigida ; and of a specimen sent
him from Ingleborough, by Mr. Finder ,
he says, “ in this plant the great dis¬
crepancy exists in the smaller size, a
foot being its extreme length, and in
having its large clusters of capsules
(thecae) confined to the base of the pin¬
nules, where they form a crowded con-
flneut line, which completely covers the

o

106

LASTRjEA.

[class xxiv.

mid-rib of the pinnae.” Mr. Newman adds, that — “From a very
careful comparison of this plant with the description of Decandolle’s
Polystichum abbreviatum, (Flor. Franc. 2,560,) we are induced to
pronounce them identical, yet scarcely inclined to consider the
discrepancy from the usual form of Filix mas sufficient for the
establishment of a species.” Besides these there are many other
forms and peculiarities of the plant ; as having the indusiums lead
colour, or brown, very small or large, numerous and crowded, or
few and distant.

The name Filix mas, Male Fern, has been applied to this plant
from a very early period ; and it was formerly much extolled as a
remedy of great value for the expelling of worms from the intestines;
it is still retained amongst the list of the Materia Medica, and
various curious formulae are found amongst the old authors for its
administration. The rhizoma dried and powdered is the part of the
plant used. Madame Naufer obtained some years since great cele¬
brity by employing it as a specific in the cure of tapeworm, and of
such importance was the secret considered by some of the principal
physicians at Paris, who were deputed to make trial of its efficacy,
that the secret was purchased by the French King, and afterwards
published by his orders. Two or three drachms of the powder of the
dried rhizomas were given fasting, and after the lapse of two hours
a cathartic composed of calomel and scammony, in proportions
according to the age and strength of the patient : if the dose did not
operate [in due time, a dose of Cathartic salts was directed to be
given ; and if the worm was not expelled in a few hours, the process
was repeated at proper intervals. It may be fairly doubted in this
process which was the cause of expelling the worm, the powdered
fern or the calomel and scammony ; the latter is most generally be¬
lieved to have been the active means, and within the last few years a
treatment similar to the above has been revived by Dr. A. T.
Waurruch, of Vienna, and with success; but in his plan great care
is taken in preparing the patient before the administration of the
fern, by means of repeated doses of aperient medicine and a spare
semifluid diet, so as to remove all obstructions to the full action of the
fern; but even with this precaution the severe means used some¬
times produce inflammatory action in the bowels.

The whole plant abounds with astringent matter, so much so that
it has been used for the purpose of tanning leather. The dried
plant, when burned, furnishes, as the Brackes do, a considerable pro¬
portion of alkaline salt, which is used in the process of cleansing

CLASS XXIV.]

LASTRiEA.

107

linen, &c., and in the manufactory of glass. In Norway ,rthe fronds
are used as fodder for oxen, horses, sheep, and goats ; and there, as
well as in the mountain districts of Italy and Switzerland, it is col¬
lected on the hills and mountains, and dried and kept in store as
winter provender for cattle and litter for horses ; and from its abound¬
ing in saline matter and the thin texture of its fronds, it quickly forms
an excellent manure.

6. L. crista'ta, Presl. (Fig. 1610.) Crested Fern , or Ehrhart's Fern.
Fronds erect, linear lanceolate, pinnate; pinnae distant, nearly tri¬
angular, or ovate lanceolate, deeply pinnatifid ; pinnules oblong,
ovate, obtuse, serrated ; lateral veins much branched ; sori midway
between the margin and rib.

Newman’s British Ferns, p. 203. — Aspidimn. — English Botany, t.
2125. — Hooker, British Flora, ed. 4 vol. i. p. 384. — English Flora,
vol. iv. p. 276.

Roots fibrous, much branched and matted together. Rhizoma
large, stout, elongated, often branched, enveloped with the decurved
bases of old fronds. Fronds several, erect, of a linear lanceolate or
elongate lanceolate form, pinnate, of a pale yellowish green colour,
and from one to two feet high. The stem forming about one-third its
length, and naked, with the exception of a few short broad obtuse
pale uniform brown coloured membranous scales. The frond is
curled up in vernation, the pinnae laying folded one over the other.
Pinnae opposite or alternate, mostly distant from each other, of a
triangular form, short, quite smooth, the pinnules oblong, ovate, ob¬
tuse, lobed in a pinnatifid manner, and each lobe from two to six
toothed, the teeth with a mucronate point, the mid-rib waved, the
lateral veins alternately branched, sending a branch to each tooth, the
anterior branch generally only bears a sorus about midway between
the mid-rib and margin, but in luxuriant plants other branches bear
sori also, so that they become confluent. Sori nearly circular, con¬
fined to the upper part of the frond. Indusium flat, reniform, with
the margin mostly sinuated, attached by a lateral stalk, as the thecas
increase in size all around it, the form becomes more circular, and it
remains attached even after the sporules are discharged. Thecae
small, numerous, attached at the base by a slender pedicel. Sporules
minute, reniform, roughish.

Habitat. — Boggy heaths ; very rare. Edgefield and Bawsey-heath,
near Lynn, and near Dersingham, Norfolk ; Oxton bogs, and Bulwell
marshes, Nottinghamshire; bogs at Wistleton, Suffolk; bog near
Madeley, Staffordshire ; and it is said to be found both in Ireland and
Scotland

108

LASTRjEA

[class XXIV.

Perennial ; in perfection in August.

This rare species is remarkable for the long and branched rhizomas
which it produces. It is more frequent on the Continent than with
us, and also in America.

The plate (fig. 1(510) illustrative of this species is drawn one-fifth
of the natural size, and shows the mode of its vernation and the
circular manner in which the fronds arise around the crown of the
rhizoma. The detached pinnules show the manner in which the
veins are distributed, and the position of the sori when they are but
few in number.

7, L. spino'sa, Neuman. (Fig. 1611.) Withering's Fern. Stem about
the length of the frond, green, clothed with roundish oblong short
pointed scales, of an uniform pale brown colour ; frond nearly erect ,
flat, elongate, lanceolate, smooth ; pinnae pinnate, the lower four to
eight pair of equal length ; pinnules pinnatifid, or pinnate, the two
first lower ones of nearly equal length, lanceolate, and twice as long
as the opposite ones, the rest more equal aud oblong, the lobes
(secondary pinnules) united by a narrow wing, except the first basal
ones, which are also cut ; all are deeply serrated with spinose pointed
teeth, curved towards the apex ; mid-vein waved, alternately branched,
and terminating before reaching the margin, the anterior branch
bearing a sorus beneath the cleft of the lobes ; indusium with an
entire or waved margin, without glands; the lower pinnae without
fruit.

Newman’s British Ferns, p. 209. — L. spinulosa, var. ( Presl .) —
Babington’s Manual, Ed 2.

/9. Crispa. (Fig. e.) Yery rigid, the margin of the lobes of the
pinnules closely rolled back, and partly concealing the sori.

Foot numerous, black, branched, matted together. Rhizoma
large, thick, branched and tufted. Fronds erect, becoming drooping,
from two to four feet high, flat, of an elongate lanceolate figure, quite
smooth. Stem green, about as long as the frond, rather slender,
channeled above, rounded at the back, clothed at the base with
crowded scales, more scattered above, and but few on the rachis.
The scales are roundish oblong, with a short point, of a pale brown
uniform colour, very thin, membranous. The pinnce are pinnate,
lanceolate, opposite and alternate, the first pair obliquely lanceolate,
from the lower pinnules being double the length of the opposite ones,
those of the second pair more equal, and cease to be different in the
fifth or sixth. The lower three or four pair of pinnae are of about
the same length. Sometimes when the frond is large, the lower eight

CLASS XXIV.-]

LASTR.EA.

109

pairs are the same length, and after that they gradually diminish to
the point. The pinnules are lanceolate or oblong lanceolate, pinnated,
alternate. The two lower ones of the first pair of pinnae are much
larger than any of the others, and twice as long as the opposite ones.
The rest of the pinnules on the same side are also longer than their
opposite ones, but not so greatly disproportionate as the two first.
This discrepancy in the size of the pinnules is less marked on the
second pinnae, and gradually diminishes to the fifth and sixth pair,
but none of them have the two first pinnules so mueh larger than the
others, except the first pair. The lobes (or secondary pinnules) ovate
oblong, obtuse, serrated, with sharp spinous teeth, curved towards the
apex, the lower basal ones often deeply lobed and toothed, and the
upper smaller ones often only toothed at the obtuse end ; each
pinnule, though distant one from the other, are connected by a narrow
wing on each side of the mid-rib, and the lobes are also connected
together in the same way. Lateral veins alternately branched, each
branch terminating before reaching the margin, and each anterior
branch bearing a sorus immediately beneath the cleft of the lobes, so
that they form a regular double series on each side of the mid-rib of
the pinnules, and frequently also on each side of the larger basal
lobes. Indusium flat, reniform, smooth, with an entire or slightly
waved or notched margin. Theca numerous, globose. The sori are
for the most part confined to the upper part of the frond, rarely or but
few upon the lower pinnae.

Habitat. — Moist woods and marshy places, not unfrequent in
England; less common in Wales, and not recorded, as found in
Scotland or Ireland ; /3. near Sheffield, Yorkshire.

Perennial ; in perfection in August.

We have no hesitation in following Newman in separating this as a
distinct species from L multi/lora: the difference between them he
lias clearly pointed out, and we have endeavoured to embody his ob¬
servations of the distinguishing characters in the above description.
It varies greatly in size, and in the more or less elongated form of the
frond. Our illustration (fig. 1611) is drawn one-sixth the natural size
of a moderate sized plant, and below it is drawn a separated scale to
show its form. The marginal illustration, (fig. a page 110,) is a pinna
drawn the natural size, to show more clearly its form and the distri¬
bution of the sori upon the pinnules and lobes Fig. b is one of the
lower secondary pinnules magnified to show the distribution of the
lateral veins, and in fig. c, which is one of the upper lobes, is shewn
the position of the sorus beneath the cleft. Fig. cl is an involucre

no

L ASTR.EA.

CLASS XXIV.

detached and magni
fied, to show its form
and the even margin.
In the accompanying
sketch is represented
(fig. e) page 111, two
pinnas attached to the
rachis of the natural
size of the remarkable
variety /3. crisjpa; and
fig./, page 111, is one
of the pinnules sepa¬
rated and drawn larger
than natural, to more
clearly show its form,
and the distribution of
its lateral veins. The
structure of the plant
is extremely rigid, and
its margins so rigidly
curled back as to he
retained when un¬
curled with great dif¬
ficulty. The sori are
much larger than in
the usual form of
the plant, and much
darker, almost black.

8. L. metadata,
Dealcin. (Fig. 1612 )
Spotted Crested Fern ■
Stem about as long
as the frond, thick¬
ened at the base,
and thicklv clothed
with long pointed
lanceolate scales of
an uniform brown
colour; frond, oblong
lanceolate, curved, a

CLASS xxrv.]

LASTR.EA.

111

dark green, and smooth above
becoming spotted, pale, and
scattered over with stalked
glands on the under side ;
pinnae pinnate, the lower four
to six pairs of nearly equal
length, elongate, deltoid, the
rest lanceolate ; pinnules lan¬
ceolate, the first lower ones
larger than the rest, all dis¬
tinctly stalked except towards
the points ; the lobes (se¬
condary pinnules) oblong
lanceolate, the lower ones
stalked and deeply cut in a
pinnatified manner, and ser¬
rated with acute spinous
teeth, mid-rib waved, lateral
veins, alternately branched,
terminating in the spine,
each anterior branch bearing
a circular sorus immediately
below the angle of the cleft ;
indusium, an irregular reni-
form figure, with an uneven
margin, mostly fringed with
stalked glands.

Roots fibrous, branched villous, dark brown. Rhizoma tufted,
scaly. Stem thickened at the base and thickly clothed with lanceo¬
late scales of a reddish brown uniform colour, thin and membranous,
the lower ones are narrow, with a long tapering point, those in the
upper part of the stem are less crowded, often distant, larger, and
more oblong in figure but without the dark brown broad band in the
middle, as in the following species; the upper part of the stem is
green, slender, channeled on the upper side, rounded at the back,
and is as long, often longer than the rest of the frond , which is of an
oblong lanceolate figure, the three to six lower pinnae of uniform length*
the rest gradually diminishing to the point, a dark green colour on
the upper surface and quite smooth, becoming scattered over with
dark purplish-brown blotches of very irregular shape and size, which

LASTR.EA.

[class XXIV.

112

equally stain the under surface, which is of a pale dull green, and
scattered over with sessile and stalked glands, most numerous
along the ribs at their base ; the pinna are opposite and alternate
lanceolate, the lower ones unequally lanceolate from the pinnules
being longer on the lower side than the upper, the first lower basal
pinnule being larger than the rest: the disproportion is less on the
other pinnules, and ceases to be observable in the fourth or sixth ;
the pinnules are oblong lanceolate, pinnated, distinctly stalked, except
toward the point, the lobes, [secondary pinnules ,) oblong, ovate, acute,
or obtusely pointed, the lower one of the large pinnules on a short
footstalk, the rest attached by their broad base, and united to each other
by a narrow wing; they are lobed and toothed, the teeth terminating
in a rather long bristle point, which becomes hooked or bent and at
length falls away, leaving the tooth with a blunt point ; the mid-rib
of the pinnules and lobes and the lateral veins are prominent, often a
purplish colour the lateral veins are simple or branched, sending a
branch to each tooth, which terminates in the bristle of the tooth, the
upper branch of each division bears a sorus just beneath the cleft of
the lobe in a regular order as seen in the plate (fig. 1612) ; all the
pinnse bear sori, but the lower ones are often without and not so
regularly distributed as in the upper ones ; the indusium is fiat, al¬
most circular, with a notch on one side, where it is attached by its
short cord to the lateral vein, the margin is more or less notched and
serrated with sessile or stalked semi-transparent glands, which seem
to fall off as the plants advance to maturity ; the theca are small
globose, a pale yellowish brown protuding beyond the indusium but
never becoming confluent.

Habitat. — The crevices of rocks on the top of Goatfell Mountain,
Isle of Arran, 1832.

Perennial ; in perfection in August.

It is with much hesitation that we give this plant the rank of a
species, still we know not to which species to refer it— the preceeding
or following; its characters pertaining to both, and still different to
either of them : it is at once obviously different from L. spinosa by
the stalked glands upon the under side and margin of the indusium,
but approaches it in the biserial arrangement of its sori, and these
placed each immediately under the cleft of the lobes, and the scales
of the stem, though of the form of L. multiflora, still they are of
uniform colour like L. spinosa. From L. multiflora it differs in its
stem being longer and its scales being of an uniform colour, as above
stated ; its secondary lobes are more deeply cut and serrated, and the

1612

Lastra;a maculata.

CLASS XXIV.]

LASTR.EA.

113

lateral veins terminate in the point, and the sori are immediately
under the cleft of the lobe, not in its middle as in L. multijiora , the
texture of its frond is thinner and more transparent, and becomes
stained with dark purple brown blotches.

Our illustration of this plant (fig. 1012) is drawn the natural size
of a moderate sized frond, and shows the disposition of the sori on
its under side; (fig. a) is a scale drawn larger than the natural size;
(fig. b) is one of the upper pinnules magnified to show its deep cut
lobes and teeth, and the distribution of the lateral veins and sori;
(fig. c) is one of the secondary pinnules, of a lower pinnule magnified
still more; both show the numerous glands on the under side : and
(fig. d) is an indusium magnified, separated, and exhibiting its form
and glandular fringed margin.

The largest frond which we have found is not more than half
as large again as the one represented ; many are much smaller ; and
in all, there is a tendency in the pinnules to curl on the under side,
especially towards the top of the frond.

9. L. multijiora, Newman. (Fig. 1613.) Roth's Fern, or many
Fruited Fern. Stem about one-third the length of the frond, green,
very stout at the base, and thickly clothed with long pointed lanceo¬
late scales, dark brown in the middle, pale in the margins, frond
oblong, lanceolate, curved, scattered over on the under side with
stalked glands, pinnae pinnate, the lower pair shorter than the se¬
cond and nearly triangular, the fourth and fifth linear longer than
the rest ; pinnules lanceolate, the lower ones with distinctly stalked
oblong obtuse, cut, and serrated lobes (secondary pinnules), the rest
elliptic, ovate, obtuse, curved downwards, all with acute spinous
teeth, mid-rib waved, lateral veins alternately branched, and termi¬
nating before reaching the margin, the first inner branch bearing a
circular sorus near the base of each lateral lobe ; indusium of an irre¬
gular reniform figure, with a jagged margin fringed with sessile or
stalked glands.

Newman’s British Ferns, p. 215. Aspidium spinulosum, and
dumetorum, Smith, English Flora, v. 4. p. 279, 281. Hooker, British
Flora, ed. 4. v. 1. p. 386.

(2. dilatata. (Fig. a, page 116.) Frond drooping, dark green,
broadly triangular, pinnules oblong, their lobes (secondary pinnules)
ovate oblong, often convex.

Aspidium dilatatum. English Botany, t. 1461. English Flora,
vol. 5. p. 280. A. spinulosum, Willd. Hooker, British Flora, ed.
4. vol. 1. p. 386.

p

114

LASTfLEA

| class xxrv

y. Nana , Newman. Frond small, rigid, convex in every part,
dark green inclining to brown, sori large, distant, indusium small,
shapeless, without glands on the margin.

Newman’s British Ferns p. 222.

Collina, Newman. Frond elongate lanceolate, stem half its
length, pinnae pinnate, the lower deltoid, the upper lanceolate, pin¬
nules ovate, obtuse serrated with obtuse teeth, sori large becoming
confluent, indusium with stalked glands on the margin.

Newman’s British Ferns, p. 223.

Roots numerous, long, black, tough, and wiry. Rhizoma large,
tufted, very scaly. Frond arched or pendulous, from two to five feet
high; and in vernation “the main stem of the frond, instead of being
regularly circinate or composed of diminishing rings, like those of
an Ionic volute, is doubled near the insertion of the second pair of
pinnae and turns back, forming a kind of loop.” Newman. The
stem is very thick at the base, and thickly covered over with long
pointed lanceolate scales, pale on the margin, dark brown along the
middle ; it is almost as long as the frond and of a green colour,
channelled on the upper side, rounded at the back. Theywm^are
opposite and alternate lanceolate, the lower pair shorter than the
others, almost triangular from the pinnules on the lower side, towards
the base, being twice as long as those on the upper, the second pair
is longer and more distant from the lower pinnee than those above,
its lower pinnules are also less disproportionate, and this inequality
between the upper and lower pinnules gradually diminishes, and
the pinnae are nearer to each other to the apex. The pinnules
are oblong, lanceolate alternate, all having those on the under side
longer than those on the upper, the first basal one on the lower
pinnae is much larger than any of the others, and the lobes (se¬
condary pinnules) on the under side are larger and more cut than
those on the upper, and have a short footstalk, this disproportion is
less observable on the other pinnules, except the basal one, which
is for the most part stalked, the rest are attached to the mid-rib of
the pinnule by a broad base, though many are notched on the upper
side, the rest are connected by a narrow ring one to the other ; the
lobes (secondary pinnules) are ovate, obtuse, serrated at the end, and
often on the sides, the teeth acute, with a sharp point, often long
and bristly. The mid-vein is waved, sending alternately a lateral
vein to each tooth, and terminating before reaching the apex ; when
the lobes are notched, and these lateral lobes are serrated, they have
a mid-vein and lateral branches, also one to each tooth, and most

CLASS xxrv.]

LASTRiEA.

115

of these lateral veins bear a sorus near the base, and all the pinnae
are fruit-bearing, so that this is one of its more prominent distin¬
guishing characters from both the former species. The indusium
is irregular in shape, more or less reniform, almost circular, more or
less uneven on the margin, and more or less fringed with stalked
glandular bodies. The Theca are numerous, small, pale brown, soon
pushing away the indusium, which curls up into a shapeless form,
and remains attached some time, or falls away. The upper surface
of the frond is smooth, a dark green, paler, and dull, not bright
green beneath, and more or less profusely scattered over with stalked
glands, especially about the ribs and the base of the pinnules and
their lobes.

Habitat. — Moist woods, banks of hedges, and shady places, espe¬
cially in a rich loamy soil ; /?. in similar situations ; <y. boggy and
hilly districts of Ireland and Scotland, less frequent in Wales ;
Y hills, Westmoreland, Yorkshire, and Lancashire. — Miss Beever
and Rev. G. Pincler.

Perennial ; in perfection in August.

The characters by wrhich this species
are distinguished will be more clearly
seen by our illustrations ; the plate (fig.

1613) is drawn one-fifth the natural size,
and the scale separated at the base is
represented the natural
size of one from the mid¬
dle of the stem, and
shaded as they are found

116

LASTRAiA.

[class XXIV,

in the middle, and pale and thin on the margins. The marginal
illustration (fig. b, page 115,) is a pinnule, from the upper part
of the frond, drawn the natural size, and shows the number
and distribution of the sori ; (fig. c) is one of the basal lateral
lobes, separated and drawn larger than natural to show the form
of the teeth, the arrangement of the veins, the situation of the
sori, and the numerous glands; (fig. d) is a portion of the upper
part of the pinnule showing the position of the sorus upon the
lateral vein and base of the lobe, and not at the angle of the cleft,
as in the two former species ; (fig. e) is one of the indusiums sepa¬
rated and magnified to show its form and the stalked glands on its
margin.

The variety L. dilatata has a frond of a triangular form, dark
green on the upper side, pale and glandular beneath, the pinnae
lanceolate, the lower one of a much more deltoid form than any of
the others, from the lower pinnules being larger than those of any
of the others ; the sori are larger and arranged in a more regular
biseral manner than in the normal form, as will be seen in the
pinnae represented in the marginal illustration (fig. a), drawn the

nules are broader, with
larger teeth and more
obtuse at the apex ;
frequently, however,
growing with this tri¬
angular form of frond, are found
others of a much more elongated
lanceolate figure, approaching the
normal form.

The variety L. nana is a much
smaller plant, more rigid, with large
and distant sori, with the indusium without glands ; and Mr. New
man says, “ Its characters did not appear changed by cultivation
for two years, at Leominster, yet I feel by no means satisfied that
it is more than a starved state of the common plant, and if so,
should not be admitted as a variety,”

.

.

.

r - . -i

.

CLASS XXIV.]

LASTILEA.

117

The variety L. collina appears to hear so many marks of a dis¬
tinct species, that we shall quote the whole passage of Mr. Newman’s
description of it; after stating that the form of the frond varies so
greatly between the regular deltoid and the narrow elongate lanceo¬
late, he concludes, the deltoid is the younger fern and the lanceolate
the matured, in this the “ stem is half as long as the frond, which
is elongate lanceolate and pinnate, the pinnae are very distinct, and
set on at nearly right-angles with the main stem ; the first pair
obtusely deltoid, the second elongate deltoid, and the remainder
nearly linear, with acuminate apices ; all are pinnate, the pinnae
(secondary pinnules) ovate, obtuse, slightly auriculated, and regu¬
larly toothed ; their attachment to the mid-stem of the pinnae re¬
sembles that in L. spinosa, there is less appearance of a stalk than
in L. multijiora, and the spines of the serratures are far less distinct
than in either of these species. All the pinnae bear seed, but the
lower pair less abundantly; the clusters are proportionately larger
than in L. multijiora: they are crowded, and become confluent,
completely hiding the mid-rib of the pinnules. The stem is pale
green, with dark brown scales, much resembling in form and colour
those of L. multijiora. The involucre (indusium) also, as far as I
can learn from my specimens, exhibits no disci epancies. Should
this fern prove distinct as a species, which I anticipate will be the
case when we have more copious materials for forming an opinion,
I beg to propose that it be called Lastrceci collina, and that it
bear the English name of ‘ Pinder’s Fern,’ in compliment to the
gentleman who first called my attention to its remarkable difference
from the usual form of L. multijiora, provided always that it proves
to be undescribed.” Newman’s British Ferns, p. 224.

10. L. Fcenisecii, (Babbington’s Manual, Edition 2.) Nephro-
dium Fcenisecii, (Lowe). (Fig. 1614.) Bree's Fern, or recurved
Fern. Stem as long as the frond, purple, hard, and woody, clothed
with narrow lanceolate laciniated scales, of an uniform pale brown
colour; frond triangular, elongate, curved, scattered over on the
under side with sessile glands ; pinnae pinnate, the lower pair stalked
and much larger than the others ; pinnules oblong lanceolate, the
first lower ones larger than the rest, all distinctly stalked, except
towards the point; their lobes (secondary pinnules) oblong, the lower
ones stalked, all more or less deeply lobed and serrated with acute
teeth, and curved upwards, mid-vein waved, lateral veins alternately
branched, terminating before reaching the margin, each anterior
branch mostly bearing a circular sorus about the middle of the
lateral lobes ; indusium an irregular reniform figure, jagged on the
margin.

118

LASTR/EA.

[class xxiv.

• L. recurva. — Newman’s British Ferns, p. 225. Aspidium dilatatum
var. recurvuin. — Bree, Mag. Nat. Hist. vol. iv. p. 162.

Roots fibrous, dark brown. Rliizoma tufted, scaly. Frond con¬
volute in vernation, becoming of an elongate triangular form, grace¬
fully curved; pinnate; the lower pinna mostly much larger than
the rest, and with a rather long footstalk, the lower ones are lanceo¬
late deltoid, the middle ones lanceolate, and the upper linear ; the
upper surface of the frond is a beautiful green paler beneath, and the
lobes are turned up, giving the frond a concave, crisped appearance,
especially when young, and the whole plant is more or less thickly
studded over with small sessile glandular bodies, which emit a pecu¬
liar odour by which the plant may be known. The stem is as long
as the frond, a dark reddish purple colour, and of a hard almost
woody texture ; it is thickened at the base, and thickly clothed,
especially in luxuriant plants, with thin, brown, uniform coloured
membranous scales, of a lanceolate form, cut into two or more
slender lobes, giving the stem almost a shaggy appearance. The
pinnules are pinnate, and the first lower basal ones are much larger
than any of the others, three times as long, or longer, than the
opposite ones, this disproportion is very much less in the second
pair of pinnae, and not at all in the rest; the pinnules are oblong,
lanceolate, pinnated, all stalked, except a few, at the point; their
lobes (secondary pinnules) are deeply cut, and the lower ones on
a short footstalk, the rest are attached by their broad base, and one
connected to the other by a narrow wing; all are deeply toothed with
acute teeth, and all have a tendency to curve upwards, giving the
plant a crisped appearance. The mid rib of the lobes is waved, and
the lateral veins arise alternately, each going to a tooth but termi¬
nating before reaching the margin. The sori are numerous, large,
arising from the lateral veins about the middle and from the superior
branch, when the lateral vein is divided, and the whole frond is
equally covered over with the sori ; they are circular and often
become confluent, of a yellowish-brown colour. The indusium at
first is a leaden colour, becoming pale, renifonn, smooth, or scattered
over with sessile glands, and jagged in in a very irregular manner
on the margin, soon becoming curled up into a shapeless form as
the thecse are developed. Theca rather large, globose, numerous.
Sporules minute.

Habitat. — Warm, sheltered woods, and amongst grass, in exposed
rocky situations ; frequent in Ireland ; probably not unfrequent in
England ; banks of Loch Lomond, Scotland.

CLASS XXIV.]

LASTRiEA.

119

Perennial ; in perfection in August.

Much doubt has been expressed amongst botanists as to this being
more than a variety of L. multiflora; but its characters, so ably
pointed out by Mr. Newman, appear decisive as to its being a
distinct species. It is true there are numerous varieties found which
seem intermediate and to connect in an intimate series, L. spinosa ,
maculata, multiflora, and Fcenisecii ; but when full grown plants, in
a mature state, are taken and compared one with the other, all
doubt in favour of their being one and the same species seems
to vanish.

Our plate (fig. 1614) represents a common frond but selected

smaller than it mostly grows in order to give its natural size rather

than a reduced one, and more clearly show its proportions and form ;

the detached pinnule is represented rather larger than natural to

show its lateral veins, the curled up manner of its growth, and the

position of the sori; the indusium is also magnified to show its

♦

shape and jagged margin. A scale is drawn, detached, and magni¬
fied, and shows the manner in which they are lacerated ; some,
however, are not so much torn as this, and others are entire.

GENUS XVI. TEICHOMANES.— Linn. Bristle Fern .

Gen. Char. Tliecce within a marginal, cylindrical, or suburceolate
monophyllous receptacle, which is of the same texture as the
frond, opening above, and furnished with an exserted bristle,
like an appendage. — Name rpKo;, a hair, pavict, excess, in

allusion to the hair like exserted appendage to the receptacle.

1. T. radicaus, ( Sw J (Eig. 1615.) Bristle-fern. Frond tri¬
angular, lanceolate, pinnate; the pinnae alternate lobed, and cut
into narrow linear, obtuse, entire or bifid segments; receptacle cylin¬
drical, obtuse in the axis of the upper pinnae ; the mouth scarcely
two-lipped, containing the thecae, and attached round the central
vein, which projects beyond the receptacle in the form of a bristle.

T. speciosum. — Newman’s British Ferns, p. 305. — Brevisetuip. —
Brown, English Flora, vol. iv. p. 311. — Hooker, British Flora, ed.
4. vol. i. p. 390. — T. pyxidiferum. Huds — Hymenopliyllum alatum.
English Botany, t. 1417.

LASTRjEA.

[class xxiv .

520

/3. Andreivsii, Newman. Frond more elongated ; the lower pinnae
distant, short ; receptacle with a projecting bristle, very long.

Newman’s British Ferns, p. 315.

Roots fibrous, branched, and woolly. Rhizoma round, long,
creeping, often several feet long, branched, and adhering to the
surface of the rock, or rooting amongst moss, clothed with a thick
coating of short, bristly hairs, which, when highly magnified, are
seen (as in fig. a) beaded with short, jointed, compressed cells; this
pubescence, which takes the place of scales as in other ferns, is
confined to the rhizoma of old plants, hut it is scattered upon the
stems of the young fronds, and falls away as they advance to ma¬
turity. The frond is circinate in vernation, and is three years before
it attains maturity; is of a triangular lanceolate form, with the lower
pinnae larger and longer than any of the others ; hut in the variety
0. Andreivsii, it is a more lanceolate form, and the lower pinnae are
smaller, shorter, than the others; it is of a dark green colour, smooth,
and shining, and when seen with a magnifying power, between the
eye and the light, shews a beautiful reticulated texture, formed by
small transparent cells ; in the variety (3. the colour of the frond
is a beautiful green, not dark green, as is the general colour of the
plant. The pinna are pinnate, triangular lanceolate or lanceolate
alternate, and connected one to the other by a broadish wing, which
wing also extends on each side of the stem to the rhizoma. The
pinnules are lobed and deeply cut into narrow, linear, obtuse, or
notched segments. The mid-rib and veins are all stout and promi-
minent, ramifying into each segment, and terminating before reach¬
ing the margin. The fructification are cylindrical, suburceolate
receptacles, formed of one piece, with a smooth, even lip, mostly
notched on one side; and arising in the axis of the pinnules, and
through the centre of this receptacle passes the vein, which extends
beyond the mouth of it two, three, and four times its length, in the
form of a bristle, bearing around its base the theca, which are
globose, encircled with an elastic beaded ring.

Habitat. — Wet rocks and caves, Ireland; rare, Turk Waterfall,
near Killarney, and various other places in the county of Kerry ;
in Glendine, and other places, near Youghal ; /3. in a cave, Glanin
Caragh.

Perrennial ; in perfection in August.

Our illustration of this plant (fig. 1615) is drawn the natural size,
and shows the form and mode of developement of the young fronds,
and size of the rhizoma, clothed with its remarkable hair-like scales,

CLASS XXIV.]

TRICHOMANES.

121

which are" represented magnified in the accompanying illustration
(fig. a) ; and a portion of one of the pinnules magnified (fig. b), to
show the form of the lobes and the position of the fruit in the

axis, and the mode and distribution of
the lateral veins, terminating before
reaching the margin. The mode, how¬
ever, of the attachment of the fruit is
very variable, which we have shown
in the figures c, d, e, / g ; the fig. c is
an usual form, with a short footstalk ;
in fig. d , the footstalk is scarcely ob¬
servable ; (fig. e) the margin of the
frond arises high up on the receptacle;
(fig./) the frond almost reaches the top
of the receptacle, and in (fig. g) it is
quite emersed in it ; in these variations,
the bristle is also of variable length,
from double to three and four times
that of the receptacle We have ob¬
served a similar variation in the re¬
ceptacle being encased, as it wrere, in
the frond, in Hymenophyllum tunbrid-
gense, which we have represented under
that species ; but as the variation is
not constant, and there not being other
distinctions to mark it as separate from
the usual form of the species, we have
not considered it a character of any
value. The variety (3. Andrewsii, has,
by some botanists, been thought a distinct species : its frond is
lanceolate; and as well as the stem, much longer than the

usual form of the plant, and the lower pinnae are shorter than the
others instead of being longer ; the lobes of the pinnules are broader
and more decurrent ; its receptacles emersed in the frond, and its

Q

122

HYMENOPHYLLUM.

[class XXIV.

bristles more curved and longer, as represented in figures cl, e, f, g,
in the accompanying sketches ; but whether these differences are not
produced by the situation in which the plant grows, and where
it is developed to a greater perfection, seems still doubtful; the
subject has been ably and fully treated by Mr. Newman, who
still retains it as a variety.

This very remarkable and rare fern is, perhaps, one of our most
interesting, as being a connecting link between the sea-weeds and ferns,
both from its habit and structure, and still reminds the examiner
of the structure of some of our large mosses ; but the following
species, it will be seen, partake even more of the habit and character
of mosses than this ; they all, however, open to the student a wide
field for research and comparison, for in these little ferns he will
find that the thecae within their cup-like receptacle, are formed
as those of the true ferns, with an elastic beaded ring; notwith¬
standing the receptacle has the form and appearance of the cup
of a moss, but its mode of attachment to the frond is that of a sea¬
weed. The structure of the frond is cellular, and as readily ab¬
sorbs moisture as do the mosses and many algse; these are points
only from which the student may start in a research, and each
step in the investigation will furnish him with abundant matter of
interest ; leading him on in the enquiry with a degree of pleasure,
which a study of the objects of nature and truth never fails to
stimulate and reward.

GENUS XVII. HYMENOPHYLLUM.— Smith. Filmy Fern.

Gen. Char. Thecce within a marginal two valved receptacle, which
is of the same texture as the frond, opening above, not furnished
with an exserted bristle-like appendage. — Name, from vunv, a
membrane, and QvWov, a leaf, in allusion to the membranous
texture of the frond.

1. TI. Tunbridgen'se, Smith. (Fig. 1016.) Tunbridge Filmy Fern.
Fronds tender, pinnate, erect, pinnse erect or spreading, pinnatifid.
The segments linear, strongly toothed on the margin, the lateral
veins terminating before reaching the margin ; receptacle subor-
bicular, compressed, toothed on the margin ; axillary ; rachis strongly
winged.

CLASS XXIV. ]

HYMENOPHYLLUM.

123

English Botany, t. 162. — English Flora, vol. iv. p. 313. —
Hooker, British Flora, eel. 4. vol. i. p. 390. — Newman’s British
Ferns, p. 321.

Roots black, slender, fibrous. RJdzoma long, slender, black, wiry,
branched, and spreading. Frond erect, from one to three inches
high, of a delicate tender structure ; bright olive green. The stem
slender, wiry ; about as long as the frond, and bearing generally at
its base a few short, slender, dark brown or black rigid hairs, which,
when magnified, are seen to be formed of joints. The racliis with
a rather broad membranous wing on each side. The pinna alternate
pinnate, the pinnules often arising only from one side of the mid-rib
of the pinnse; a simple linear segment, or two or three branched,
of a delicate texture, finely reticulated ; the margin coarsely ser¬
rated. The lateral veins are stout, and terminate before reaching the
margin. All the pinnae are erect, or somewhat spreading. The
receptacles are nearly orbicular; flat, from the sides being com¬
pressed; two valved, the margins more or less deeply and unequally
toothed ; the central vein, around which the thecae are attached, is
short, not reaching beyond the middle of the valves; the receptacles
are usually in the axis of the pinnae, but occasionally they are found
in the axis of the pinnules, so that each pinnae bears two and three
receptacles. Theca globose, not very numerous, with an elastic
beaded ring. Sporules orbicular, roughish.

Habitat. — Moist rocks and stones ; amongst moss in moist,
mountainous situations, in various counties of England, Wales,
and Ireland; banks of the Clyde, Loch Long, and Loch Lomond,
Scotland.

Perennial; in perfection in July.

This beautiful little fern not unfrequently grows with the following
species, and often so matted and entangled together as to be with
difficulty separated one from the other, and they, growing upon moist
rocks and stones amongst moss, are often overlooked, from the great
resemblance they have to the moss itself. The characters by which
they are distinguished as species are sufficiently obvious in the
difference of form and structure of the receptacles, as well as in
the erect growth of this species and the more compact cellular
structure of the frond. The illustration of this fern (fig. 161G.)
is made the natural size of an ordinary grown specimen ; they are
occasionally found larger and often smaller. The detached pinna
shows the receptacle as it usually grows ; and in the marginal

HYMENOPHYLLUM.

[CLASS XXIV.

124

illustration (figs, a , b, c,) are shown others, as they are occasionally
found, with the frond attached to its sides half way, and even to

its margin ; hut, heyond this variation, we
have not observed any difference : they are
all drawn larger than natural to show their
structure more clearly. (Fig. d) shows the
jointed, hair-like scales at the base of the
stem magnified ; from which will be seen
the close affinity they hear to those on the
rh izo mas of Trichomanes radicans, (fig. a
page 121).

2. H. Wilsoni, Hooker. (Fig. 1G17.)
Wilsons Filmy Fern. Fronds rigid, pinnate,
drooping; pinnae spreading or recurved pin-
natifid; the segments linear, entire, or slightly
toothed on the margin, the lateral veins ter¬
minating in the margin ; receptacle ovate,
inflated, its valves spreading, entire on the
margin ; axillary, racliis slightly winged to¬
wards the top.

English Botany Supplement, t. 2680. —
Hooker, British Flora, ed. 4, vol. i. p. 390. —
Newman’s British Ferns p. 325.

Roots black, slender, branched, fibrous, and
as well as the Rhizoma similar to the last
species, having also a few hair-like scales at
its base, and often one or two upon the stein,
which is slender, wiry, erect. The rcicliis is naked, except towards
the top ; it has a narrow wing on each side. The jinnee are
more rigid than the last species, of a darker green colour ; its
structure, when magnified, is seen to be formed of larger cells,
and more strongly reticulated ; erect, or spreading, becoming
drooping. The pinnules are narrower and generally less strongly
serrated on the margin. The lateral veins terminate in the mar¬
gin. The receptacles are stalked in the axis of the pinnae, ovate,
inflated, the valves entire on the margin and spreading at the
mouth. The central vein, around the base of which the thecae
are attached, never reaches the margin. The thecee are few, globose,
with an elastic beaded ring. The sporules orbicular, roughish.

Habitat. — Moist rocks and stones, especially in the north of Eng¬
land, Wales, and Scotland ; and in many parts of Ireland-

:H;] 9

'

*

CLASS XXIV.]

LYCOPODIUM.

125

Perennial ; in perfection in J uly.

This is a much more frequent plant than the last species, often
growing in considerable patches, covering the rocks and stones, and
spreading itself amongst the moss in entangled masses, and, as
already observed, growing with the last species.

Our illustration of this species is drawn the natural size, the right
hand figure showing a luxuriant but barren frond; and the other,
a mature fruit-bearing frond ; and the detached pinna is magnified
to show the structure and position of the receptacle. Frequently
more luxuriant and larger specimens than here represented are found,
when the pinnae, instead of bearing only one receptacle, bear two
or three ; and the frond is then more drooping.

SUB-ORDER I.

LYCOPODIA CEiE.

GENUS I. LYCOPODIUM.— Linn. Club-moss.

Gen. Char. Thecce one celled, two valved, containing a fine pow
dery matter; and others three valved, containing a few large
sporules. — Name from \vx.o$, a wolf, and 7rov?,7rc^o?, a foot, which
the branches of some of the species are supposed to resemble.

1. L. clava'tum, Linn. (Fig. 1 G 18 ) Common Club-moss. Spikes
one to three, on an elongated scaly peduncle, their bracts ovate,
acuminate, the margins eroso dendate; stem very long, creeping, with
ascending branches; leaves small, lanceolate, with along hair-like
point.

English Botany, t. 224.— English Flora, vol. iv. p. 318.— Hooker,
British Flora, ed. 4, vol. i. p. 39, — Newman’s British Ferns, p. 353.

Roots white, tough, and fibrous, scattered at unequal intervals
along the stem. Stem procumbent, creeping, several feet long,
branched, very hard, solid, vascular, tough, and rigid ; the branches
arise alternately, ascending, and are simple or branched, and, as- well
as the stem, thickly clothed with imbricated leaves of a yellowish
green colour. Leaves narrow, lanceolate, terminating in a long, bristly
point; very numerous, crowded, and arising from the stem and
branchesTn- -a regular spiral order; they are smooth on the margin,

126

LYCOPODIUM.

[class xxiv .

or slightly toothed, persistent. Inflorescence cylindrical, spike-like,
catkins one, two, or three on the top of a rather slender peduncle,
hearing shorter, smaller leaves, with erosed margins, and arrayed in
a spiral manner; each spike is on a short pedicel, and about an
inch long, erect in fruit, becomiug afterwards curved ; its bracts are
crowded, of a pale yellow colour, and a triangular ovate, acuminate,
pointed figure, having the margins erosed and membranous, each
bearing at its base a sub-reniform theca, of a pale yellow colour,
bursting by two valves, and containing numerous very minute
sporules of a pale sulphur colour.

Habitat. — Heathy places, in mountainous countries ; common.

Perennial ; in fruit in July and August.

The long cord-like stems of this lycopodium
often extend over a space of two or three
yards, and form a complete mat upon the
surface of the ground, in heathy districts;
having by no means an unornamental appear¬
ance with their horn-like spikes elevating
themselves upon the stalks of a pale yellow
colour. When the leaves are stripped off the
stem, it will be seen as represented in the
marginal illustration, that they leave scars
which are arranged in a regular spiral man¬
ner, and will remind those who have been in
the habit of examining the fossil remains of
plants, of some of the impressions frequently found on the casts
of stems, sometimes as thick as the body of a man, showing to
what a magnitude the antidiluvian species attained in comparison
with our now slender forms.

The sporules which the thecae produce in such abundance are
collected and sold in the shops under the name of vegetable sulphur,
and are said, together with the stems, to be used for the purpose of
ameliorating wine; it is used, also, as an absorbing powder to prevent
excoriation in children; but the chief purpose to which it is applied is
in making of fireworks, on account of its highly inflammable nature;
and on the stage, it :has been used to produce artificial lightning ;
but powdered resin answers the latter purpose and is a much cheaper
article.

The whole plant of this, as well as some of the other species is
used in the formation of various dye colours, and to fix them, instead

CLASS XXIV.]

LYCOPODIUM.

127

of alum. A decoction of it is said, by the Poles, to be the most
successful remedy yet tried in the cure of that dreadful disease of
the hair, the Plica polonica. The long slender stems, with their pale
coloured spikes, are formed into many pretty ornaments for deco¬
rating the houses of country people, and for filling their fire grates
during the summer months; for this purpose, it is often sold in the
markets under the name of Staghorn-moss.

2. L. annotinum, Linn. (Fig. 1619.) Interrupted Club-moss.
Spike solitary, sessile, on the end of the branches; their bracts
broadly ovate, cuspidate, with eroso-dendate margins ; stem creeping,
with erect or ascending branches ; leaves linear, lanceolate, acumi¬
nate, with a bristle point, and toothed margins.

English Botany, t- 1727. —English Flora, vol. iv. p. 321. — Hooker,
British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p 391. — Newman’s British Ferns, p. 353.

Roots tough and wiry, Stem creeping, slender, tough, and wiry ;
deeply striated; irregularly branched, at unequal distances, with
erect, simple, or divided branches, the increase of which in length with
each year is marked by the close-pressed and shorter leaves in the
upper part of each portion ; the branches are erect, and the fruit¬
bearing ones terminate in a linear, cylindrical, sessile spike. Leaves
persistent, linear, lanceolate, sessile, arranged in a spiral order; the
margins more or less regularly toothed with sharp teeth ; the apex
acuminated, terminating in a bristle ; the mid rib stout, prominent
at the back. The lower leaves of each annual portion are larger
and more spreading than those in the upper : all are hard and rigid,
and of a yellowish green colour. Inflorescence a terminal spike ;
solitary sessile, about an inch long, cylindrical, pale, composed of
numerous closely imbricated scales, roundish, ovate, with an acumi¬
nated point at the terminus of the mid-rib ; the sides are mem¬
branous and the margins eroded : each bract bears in its axis a
large reniform theca, which contains numerous minute sulphur
coloured sporules, which escape from a transverse opening when the
theca is ripe.

Habitat.— Wild, mountainous districts ; on the side of Glyder
Mountain, above Llyn-y-Cwn, North Wales; mountains of West¬
moreland and Scotland ; not common.

Perennial ; in perfection in August.

This is a well marked and distinct species, remarkable from the
manner in which it shows its annual increase of growth, and from
this peculiarity it derives its specific name of annotinum ; it does

LYCOPODIUM.

Lclass XXIV.

128

not appear to be anywhere a very common plant, but is readily
distinguished from all our other species.

3. L. alpinum , Linn. (Fig. 1620.) Savin leaved Club-moss.
Spike solitary, sessile, on the end of the branches; the bracts
ovate, acuminate, toothed on the margin; stem creeping, with erect,
repeated dichotomous branches ; leaves lanceolate, acute, entire,
imbricated in four rows.

English Botany, t. 234 — English Flora, vol. iv. p. 321. — Hooker,
British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p. 392. — Newman’s British Ferns, p. 365.

Roots tough, wiry, branched. Stem creeping, round, tough,
branched, and more or less closely set with leaves, arranged in
a spiral manner ; the branches numerous, arising at irregular dis¬
tances, erect, and repeatedly branched in a dichotomous manner,
thus forming close, thick, fasciculated masses, from two to four or
six inches high, of a bright green colour. Leaves lanceolate, acute,
sessile, smooth, shining, of a somewhat leathery texture, rounded at
the back, concave in front, and one imbricated over the other in
lines, giving the branches a squarish form, the margins are smooth,
and the point is not bristly but rather obtuse. The fasicles of the
branches all grow to near the same height, and the fruit-bearing
ones are terminated in a close cylindrical spike , about half an inch
long, of a pale yellowish green colour, sessile. The bracts are ovate,
with an acuminated point, the margins membranous and toothed,
each bearing in its axis a theca of a kidney-shaped form and yellow
colour, containing numerous pale yellow spondes, very minute :
after the escape of the sporules the bracts are reflexed, as well as the
spikes, which become a dark brown colour.

Habitat.— Elevated mountainous districts, Yorkshire, Derbyshire,
Lancashire, and the north of England ; common in Scotland and
Wales ; less frequent in Ireland.

Perennial ; in perfection in August.

This pretty little evergreen plant forms thick spreading patches
of its fasiculated branches in the wild mountainous districts, and
lias much the aspect of a miniature Savin plant, from whence it
derives its name; it has a bitter aromatic taste, and if taken in any
quantity acts as an emetic, but is not applied to any medicinal uses.
It is used in Iceland, according to Sir W. J. Hooker, to dye woollen
cloths; he says that “A vast heap of Lycopodium alpinum lying
before the priest’s house, drew my attention, and on enquiry I found
that it was used for the purpose of giving their wadmal a yellowish

- 1618

Lycopodium clavatum.

CLASS XXIV.]

LYCOPODIUM.

m

dye, which is done by merely boiling the cloth in water, with a
quantity of the Lycopodium and some of the leaves of Vaccinium
uUginosum. The colour imparted by this process, to judge from some
cloth shown me, was a pale, pleasant, though not a brilliant yellow.”
— Journal of a Tour in Iceland in the year 1809, vol. i. p. 214.

4. L. innundatum, Linn. (Fig. 1621.) Marsh Club-moss , Spike
solitary, terminal; the bracts leafy; stem short, simple, creeping;
branches, erect, simple, terminating in a spike ; leaves narrow, linear,
lanceolate, acute, entire.

English Botany, t. 239. — English Flora, vol. iv. p. 319. — Hooker,
British Flora, ed. 4, vol. i. p. 391. Newman’s British Ferns, p. 369.

Roots short, stout, branched Stem from one to four inches long,
creeping, simple, very rarely branched, thickly clothed with imbri-
cated leaves. Leaves narrow, linear, lanceolate, untire on the mar¬
gin, the point acute ; those of the stem curved upwards, on the
branches; erect. Inflorescence a terminal cylindrical spike, about
an inch long and elevated on a footstalk, or branch, about its own
length ; its bracts are similar to the leaves, except the base being
rather broader and sometimes with a single tooth on each side, each
bract bearing in its axis an almost spherical theca, of a pale
yellowish green colour, containing numerous minute pale yellow
sporules.

Habitat. — Moist heaths and commons; frequent in the south of
England; less common in the Midland and Northern Counties ; and
rare in Wales and Scotland : not known in Ireland.

Perennial; in perfection in July and August.

T>. L. Selago, Linn. (Fig. 1622 ) Fir Club-moss. Leaves linear,
lanceolate, acuminate, entire ; coriaceous rigid, crowded, the upper
o-nes bearing in their axis the thecae; stem ascending, branched,
with dichotomous erect branches.

English Botany, t. 233.— English Flora, vol. iv. p. 320. — Hooker,
British Flora, ed. 4, vol. i. p. 392. — Newman’s British Ferns, p. 375.

Roots numerous, tough, wiry, branched. Stem short, procumbent
at the base, ascending or erect, and branched two, three, and
four times in a dichotomous manner, round, hard, tough, from three
to six and sometimes eight inches high, thickly clothed with imbri¬
cated leaves, of a yellowish green colour, smooth, linear lanceolate

R

130

LYCOPODIUM.

[class XXIV.

or lanceolate with an acuminated point ; the margins smooth, of
a rigid, leathery texture, more rigid, shorter, and close pressed to
the stem of those plants grown in a dry, exposed situation ; longer,
less rigid, and spreading in plants grown in more humid places.
Theca rather large, reuiform, sessile in the axes of the leaves,
especially in the upper ones, yellow, two valved, containing nu¬
merous minute pale yellow sporules. Besides the thecse and sporules,
or seeds by which the plant is propagated, the leaves in various parts
of the branches, hut especially at the top, become transformed into
buds, which separate and fall to the ground, put out roots, and
expand into plants. These buds are formed by a leaf which
becomes shorter and swollen on the outside, at the base; and from
its inner margin it puts out five smaller lanceolate teeth (fig. 1, 2)
a, 7;,) elevated on a short, hardened footstalk ; within this is a
whorl of three ovate oblong acute leaves, with two scales at the
base, one at the back of one, and the other between two of the
leaves (fig. 1, 2, 3, c> d, e) ; and within this whorl is a close, thick,
oblong process, which elongates and puts out small leaflets, and
expands into a plant.

Habitat. — Heathy and stony places, especially in mountainous
countries ; common.

Perennial ; in perfection in August.

Our figure, 1622, representing this plant is drawn the full size
and shows amongst the upper leaves some which are transformed
into buds; and detached is shown a magnified leaf with its theca
attached to its base, while the above figures represent the de¬
tached buds drawn much larger than they are in a natural state.
Fig. 1 shows in the lower part a the swollen sixlobed leaf, which
is analagous to the calyx of flowering plants; c is the inner whorl,

CLASS XXIV.]

LYCOPODIUM.

131

elevated from within the calyx to show more distinctly its form, and
that it is composed of three large pieces and two small scales ; one
as there shown — between the larger ones, and the other is opposite
to it ; and at the back of the third, large pieces, as seen in (fig. 3.)
This whorl might be called the corolla, as in flowering plants ;
within it, in the centre, is an elongated process, short, and unex,
panded in fig. 1, c ;* but more developed, and putting out its
leaves in fig. 1. 2. It is not unfrequent to find these buds attached
to the parent plant, with the central process as much expanded as
represented in fig. 2 ; but as the whorl c and d readily separates
from its base by slight causes, they commonly detach themselves,
fall to the ground, and put out from their base a prolongation, with
numerous minute filaments, which form into roots, attach themselves
to the ground, and expand. The inner process puts out its leaves
in a spiral arrangement and expands into a plant, as seen in fig. 3.
This beautiful and remarkable process in the economy of the plant
is one of great interest, and may readily be observed in its native
place of growth, or in plants grown under glasses.

This species was at one time famous for its medicinal powers in
the cure of diseases of the eyes ; and, according to De Thiers,
received its name from the Celtic sel, sight ; and jack, salutary.
It possesses powerful irritating properties ; and in the Highlands of
Scotland is said to be still made into an ointment which is used
as a counter irritant in parts near to the eyes for the cure of diseases
in those organs, but is much too violent in its action to apply to the
eyes themselves; it is used, however, as an application to foul,
indolent ulcers, and might' be used for the purpose of keeping up a
discharge from blisters in the place of savin ointment ; notwith¬
standing the powerful irritating properties which it possesses, it is
said to be administered by the Highlanders in the form of an
infusion as an emetic and carthartic ; but much care is required
in its administration, for if too large a dose is given it causes gid¬
diness and convulsions. In Sweden, according to Linnaeus, the
decoction of this plant is used as an external application to destroy
vermin upon cattle; and, doubtless, from its properties, is an effectual
remedy and might be used with advantage, by poor people, for the
same purpose. The Highlanders use it in the process ot dying some
of their colours to fix them in the place of alum.

6. L. selaginoides, Linn. (Fig. 1023.) Prickly Club-moss. Spike
terminal, solitary, sessile, leafy ; stem creeping, with short, ascending

132

LYCOPODIUM.

[CLASS XXIV.

branches ; leaves scattered, spreading, lanceolate, and serrated with
spinous teeth.

English Botany, t. 1148. English Flora, vol. iv. p. 319. Hooker,
British Flora, ed. 4. vol. 1. p. 392. Newman’s British Ferns, p. 371. .
Selaginella spinulosa. Alex Brawn ap. Doell.

Roots very slender, fibrous. Stem slender, procumbent, branched,
pale, thin, delicate, branches simple, erect or ascending from one to
three inches high, terminating in an elongated spike. Leaves lanceo¬
late, of a thin delicate texture, with a slender mid-rib ; the margins
toothed with slender spreading teeth, like little spines ; the leaves of
the stem are shorter, more distant, and spreading than those of the
branches. Spike terminal, about an inch long ; its bracts similar to
the leaves, but larger and closer pressed, not spreading, the lower
ones bearing in their axis large thecce , three-celled, and containing
three globose bodies, or four-celled and four grains, each grain with
a depression at the base. The upper bracts bear in their axes a
subreniform theca, containing minute pulverulent sporules ; each
theca bursts by two valves, though sometimes the lower ones are
said to burst in four directions.

Habitat. — Wet boggy places by the side of mountain rills, &c. ,
in the north of England, Wales, and Scotland ; and Ireland not
unfrequently.

Perennial ; in perfection in August.

Our illustration of this curious little plant is drawn the natural
size, and a detached leaf shows the spinous serratures of the mar¬
gin, and one of the detatclied bracts the shape of the theca of the
upper ones, which contains the pulverulent pollen as in the other
species ; and the other shows the lower bract, with the theca tliree-
celled, and containing the larger granular bodies, and the lower
figure shows the theca separated and the grains within the cells.
There has been much speculation amongst botanists as to the
different offices which these different sized grains perform in the
reproduction of the species. We are much disposed to think with
Wahlenberg, that they are only varieties in size, and that both the
kinds produce plants equally well ; but our observations are not
sufficiently matured to justify us in speaking positively as to whe¬
ther this be really the case or not.

Lycopodium annotinum.

Id-22

Lycopodium Selago.

1G23

Lycopodium Selaginoides.

CLASS XXIV. 3

ISOE’TES.

133

SUB-ORDER II.

MARSILEACEiE. — Pepperworts.

GENUS 1. ISOE'TES. — Linn. Quillwort.

Gen. Char. Involucres formed by tlie dilated base of the leaves, and
enveloping the tliecce, some containing a few large and others nu¬
merous small granular sporules. Sporules both rough and angular.
— Name, from io-0$, equal or alike, ETo?, the year or evergreen .

1. I. lacustris, Linn. (Fig. 1624.) European Quillwort. Leaves
awl-shaped, bluntly four angled, and with four longitudinal inter¬
nally jointed tubes.

English Botany, t. 1084. English Flora, vol. iv. p. 330. Hooker,
British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p. 392. Newman’s British Ferns,
p. 381.

Roots long semipellueid, simple or branched, towards the extremity
tubular. Rhizoma sub-globose, of a dark brown spongy texture,
externally white and compact within; and in the centre is a semi-
pellucid portion from which the leaves seem first to arise. Leaves
persistent, awl-shaped, from four to six inches long, erect, arising from
the crown of the rhizoma, dilated, pale, and sub-membranous at the
base, round or bluntly quadrangular above, and of an olive green
colour; internally it has four tubes, which pass through its whole
length, and these are divided at intervals with transverse partitions
or joints, they are very brittle and easily break off at the joints.
The young and vigorous leaves are mostly surrounded at the outside,
at the base, by the remains of the former leaves, the tops of which
have decayed and fallen away. Tliecce sub-globose, membranous,
hard, enveloped in the base of a leaf which forms its involucre;
some of these thecae contain globose bodies marked at the top, with
a triangular elevated suture and also with another which encircles
it; at these sutures the valves separate; externally they are rough,
with minute incrustations, and an opaque white ; and within is a
sub-globose semi-gelatinous substance ; these sporules are said to be
attached to several transverse slender placenta. Other thecae, which

134

ISOE’TES

| CLASS XXIV.

are similar in shape and substance, and enveloped in the same way
in the base of the leaves, contain minute angular sporules, very
numerous, of a pale sulphur-yellow colour.

Habitat. — The bottom of mountain lakes; not uncommon.

Perrennial ; in perfection in June,

Besides the erect growing form of the plant as here described, there
is another, which has been regarded as a distinct species; it is cha¬
racterised by having shorter, thicker leaves, which spread around
and not in the erect position as is the case in the general form of the
mature plants. It would appear, however, that these are only young
plants, growing solitary, and not as is usually the case grown in a
crowded mass from the developement of the seeds in the bosom of
the thecce, but each escaped and established separate from the crowd.

Our drawing illustrating this species (fig. 1624) is made the natural
size of an ordinary plant in its usual state of growth. On the left
hand is shown the lower portion of a leaf with a theca attached
to it as found growing, except that the membranous sides, which form
the involucre, are turned back to show it more clearly ; beneath is
the theca magnified and cut in half to show the sporules within, and
by its sides is one of the sporules more magnified to show its granular
covered coat and the sutures where it opens; and next to this is the
sporule, open by the separtion of its three valves, and exhibiting the
semi-gelatinous globose mass within. On the right hand is shown
also the lower portion of a leaf and a theca in the natural position ;
and beneath is the theca divided in half to show the arrangement
of the minute granular bodies, with which it is filled ; and by the
side of it some of these angular grains magnified with a higher
power to show their form.

It is still a subject for investigation as to what these different bodies
are, and the office which they perform in the economy of the plant ;
and it is hoped that as there is now so much more attention paid to
the cultivation of ferns, that some one will turn his enquiries to these
very curious, humble denisons of our lakes, especially as they may
be, as asserted by Kay, grown in fish ponds; and we do not think there
would be much difficulty in growing them in glass cases, where their
propagation and developement could be more minutely observed.

V

1624

Isoetes lacustris.

1625

Pilularia globulifera.

CLASS xxrv.]

PILULARIA.

135

GENUS II. PILULAUIA.— Linn. Pillwort.

Gen. Char. Theca; naked, axillary, containing in the upper part
sessile corpuscles, which emit a yellow pollen or dust; and
below these are other sessile bodies, which become single
grained fruit. — Name, from pillula, a little pill, in allusion to
the form of the fruit.

1. P. globulifera, Linn. (Fig. 1625.) Creeping Pillwort. Leaves
setaceous, two to four together; thecae axillary, hairy.

English Botany, t. 521. English Flora, vol. 4. p. 329. Hooker,
British Flora, ed. 4. v. 1. p. 392. Newman’s British Ferns, p. 393.

Roots from one to four inches long, slender, simple, or slightly
branched, hollow, and at various intervals with transverse joints,
arising from the rhizoma at the base of the leaves, and are two or
three in number. Rhizoma thread-like, cylindrical, smooth, except
towards the apex, and the base of the new leaves is clothed with
jointed hair like scales, similar to those on Trichomanes and Hyme-
nophyllum ; but these soon fall away and leave the rhizoma quite
smooth ; it is simple or alternately branched at the junction of the
leaves Leaves curled up in vernation, becoming erect, smooth,
bright green, bristle shaped, from one to three inches long, and in
clusters of from two to four; hollow. Theca globose, about the size
of a small pea, on a short footstalk in the axis of the leaves, thickly
clothed with pale brown jointed hairs; when matured the theca opens
at the apex and splits into four quarters for the escape of the
sporules, each quarter remaining attached to the footstalk, and
showing the lower portion to be occupied with large sub globose
bodies, and the upper portion with small granular yellow bodies.
The lower bodies have been observed to germinate and become
plants ; but the specific office of the upper grauules is not yet
known.

Habitat. — Margins of pools and lakes, and in low places which
are occasionally overflowed.

Perennial ; in perfection in July.

The germination of the lower bodies of the theca has been
carefully watched during the progress of their developement and
described by Mr. Valentine, in the Transactions of the Linnaean

136

PILILURIA.

£ Cl, ASS XXIV.

Society, vol. 18 ; and we hope, as we have said above, that further
observations will be made so as to throw some light on the nature
of the upper small bodies of the thecee.

Our illustration (fig. 1625) is drawn the natural size of the plant:

the accompany-

theca, clothed
6 /y c with its rough

coat of jointed

hairs; fig. b is the same burst open into its four quarters, and
exhibiting its sporules ready to escape from their cells ; fig. c is a
transverse section of a theca in its lower part, showing the arrange¬
ment of the cells and the sporules within them.

INDEX

OF THE

GENERIC AND SPECIFIC NAMES, &c.,

In VOL. IV.

Page

Acrostichum . . 74

Adiantum: .. .. 49

Capillus Veneris . . 49

Allosorus .. .. 47

crispus . . . . 47

Aspidium . . . . 91

acu'eatum ‘ . . . . 91

angulare . . . . 95

cristatum . . . . 103

dentatum . . . . 85

depastrum . . .. 101

dilitatum . . .. 113

dumetorum . . 113

erositm .. , . 101

Filix mas .. . . 101

irriguum . . . . 61

lobalum . . . . 91

lonchitis . . . . 89

lonchitidoides . . . . 91

montanum . . . . 88

recurvum . . . . 118

rhceticum . . . . 86

ligidum . . . . 100

spinulosum .. .. 113

Asplenjum .. .. 57

acutum . . . . 66

Adiantum nigrum .. 64

alternifolium . . . . 77

Breynii . . . . 77

Filix feemina .. .. 57

fontanum . . . . 62

germanicum . . . 77

Halleri . . . . 62

incisum . . . . 60

lanceolatum .. .. 67

marinum .. .. 69

molle . . . . 59

obtusum . . . . 66

officinarum . . . , 66

ovatum . . . . 60

rhceticum . . . . 60

ruta-muraria .. .. 75

Scolopendrium .. .. 78

septentrionale . .

Fage

74

trichomanes

73

trifidum

58

viride

71

Athyrium convexum

60

dentatum

60

filix feemina

59

incisum

60

molle

59

ovatum

60

trifidum

59

Blechum boreale

51

Botrychium

34

lunaria

34

lunaria minor ramosa

35

minor foliis ■ dissectis

35

racemosa minor adiantifolia

35

Ceterach

81

officinarum

81

Cryptogramma crispa

48

Cyathea dentata

85

authriscifolia . .

86

tynapifolia

86

incisa

87

montama

88

regia

86

Cysteafragilis

85

angustata

86

dentata

85

Cystopteris

84

alpina

88

angustata

86

angustifolia

86

anthriscifolia . .

86

cynapifolia

86

dentata

85

fragilis

\ \ 85

—88

montana

88

Equisetum

13

alpinum

23

S

INDEX.

arvense

Drummondii

elongation

fluviatile

hyemale

limosum

Mackaii

nudum

palustre

polystachion

ramosissimum

ramosum

rep tans

scirpioides

sylvaticum

Telmateia

umbrosum

Page

16

19

29

25

27

24

29
23
23
23
31

30
12
11
21
13
18

31

Wilsoni

# #

32

Lonchitis

• •

* •

89

montanum

• •

• •

88

Grammitis Ceterah . .

• •

81

phegopteris

• •

• •

41

Gymnngramma

• •

81

Bhceticum

• •

• •

86

tenue

• •

• •

86

Hymenophyllum ..

• •

122

vulgare

• •

• •

37

Tunbridgense . .

• •

122

PlLULARIA

• •

• •

135

Wilsoni

» •

224

globulifera

• •

• •

135

PoLYSTICHUM

• •

• •

89

fsOETES

• •

133

aculeatum

• •

• •

91

lacustris

• •

133

angulare

• t

• •

95

lobatum

• i

• •

91

Lomaria

• •

51

lonchitis

• •

• •

71

spicant

• •

51

lonchitiodes

• •

• •

91

Lastr^ea

• •

96

strigosum

• •

» *

100

col/ina

• •

114

Pteris

» •

• »

52

crispa

• .

108

aquilina

« •

• •

53

cristata

• •

107

crispa

» •

» •

48

dilatata

# #

113

erosa

, #

101

ScOLOPENDRIUM

• •

• •

78

Filix mas

, ,

103

ceterah

• t

• •

81

Foenisecii

t •

117

crispa

• •

• •

^8

maculata

• •

no

dcedalea

• »

• •

78

multiflora

» ♦

113

Imbata

• •

• •

78

nana

• •

114

officinarum

• •

• •

78

oreopteris

• •

98

Irhyllitis

» •

• «

78

recurva

» •

118

polyschides

• •

• •

78

rigida

• •

99

vulgare

• •

» •

78

spinosa

• .

108

spinulosa

• .

108

Trichomanes

• •

• •

119

Thelypteris

• •

96

Andrewsii

• •

• •

120

Lycopodium

, ,

125

brevisetum

• •

• •

119

alpinum

• .

128

pyxidiferum

• •

• •

119

annotinum

• •

127

radicaus

# ,

• •

119

clavatum

• *

125

speciosum

• •

• •

119

inundatum

• •

129

selaginoides

, ,

131

Woodsia

• •

• «

45

selago

. .

129

hyperborea

• #

* •

46

ilvensis

• •

• •

46

Nephrodiwn Fcenisecii

••

117

Ophioglossum

vu!gatum

OsMUNDA
lunar ia
regalis

Polypodium

anthriscifolium
calcareum
Cambricum
cynapifolium .
dentatum
dryopteris
fragile
fragraus
heliopteris
hyperb reum . .
lobatum

Page

33

33

24-36

34

36

37
86
43
39
86
85
42
85

100

101

46

91

I

INDEX

OF

ENGLISH NAMES,

To VOL. IV.

Adder’s tongue

Page

33

Bladder fern

Brake

Bristle fern

84

52

: . 110

Ceterach

Crested fern

Clubmoss

81

96

125

Filmey fern

Flowering fern

122

36

Hard fern

Hart’s tongue

Horse tail

51

78

13

Lomaria

51

Maiden hair

Page

49

Male fern

# ,

103

Moon wort

• •

34

Osmond royal

• •

36

Polypody

• •

37

Pillwort

• •

135

Quillwort

• •

133

Rock brake

• •

47

Shiend fern

• •

89

Spleen wort

57

Woodsia

• •

45

G. RIDGE, PRINTER, MERCURY OFFICE, KING-STREET, SHEFFIELD.